Kenyatta and Somali President Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo initiated mediated discussions in Nairobi, with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed overseeing efforts to address tensions over a contested maritime region in the Indian Ocean.
The dispute centers on overlapping claims to a resource-rich zone believed to hold significant offshore oil and gas deposits. Kenya accused Somalia of unilaterally auctioning exploration rights in the area last month, violating a pending International Court of Justice (ICJ) case over maritime boundaries.
Kenya's government described the alleged action as an "illegal grab" of its territorial resources, while Somalia denied the allegations, stating it would not proceed with unilateral activities until the ICJ resolves the matter.
The ICJ has been hearing Somalia's 2014 case seeking to extend its maritime boundary along the land border's southeasterly direction. Kenya, however, advocates for a straight-line extension eastward, which would grant it greater territorial control over the 100,000-square-kilometer disputed zone.
Both nations pledged to "work towards peace" and address issues escalating tensions, according to Ahmed's office. The talks follow Kenya's February recall of its ambassador to Mogadishu over the dispute.
