Month: February 2020

BELGRADE, Serbia, February 20, 2020….Chief Administrative Secretary, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, who is on a historic official visit to Belgrade, Serbia has urged Serbian companies to invest in Kenya’s Big Four Agenda across Manufacturing, Food Security, Affordable Housing and Universal Healthcare projects as a sustainable foundation for increased trade volumes and closer ties between Nairobi and Belgrade.

“Kenya is keen to leverage on Serbia’s expertise especially in manufacturing with your strong industrial base in automobiles, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food processing,” CAS Ababu noted in bilateral talks with H.E Ivica Dacic, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. The CAS encouraged Serbian investors to take advantage of Kenya’s conducive business environment, describing the country as “an established regional economic hub, attractive and safe investment frontier, a gateway to East and Central Africa and a natural springboard into the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area of 1.2 billion people”.

He highlighted that Kenya and Serbia continue to enjoy cordial and beneficial relations first established through the warm friendship between Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Yugoslavia’s iconic leader Josip Broz Tito, whose evolved party Premier Dacic is leader of today. “Our historical ties have stood the test of time and been manifested in our close cooperation on multiple fronts.

“Today this special friendship is evidenced by the commitment of Serbia confirmed by your excellency right now to support Kenya’s bid for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat for the period 2021-2022 in the vote to be held in New York this June. Kenya thanks Serbia most sincerely, and promises to serve the world well in our classical style that places a premium on rule-based multilateralism defined by respect, unity of purpose, consensus, dedication and sacrifice”, Ababu assured and pinned Kenya’s official campaign badge on Mr. Dacic’s coat lapel to signify Serbia’s support for Kenya’s bid.

Hon Ababu has had a busy schedule in Belgrade, conducting a whirlwind of bilateral engagements aimed at sealing cooperation in key areas of mutual benefit to strengthen and deepen relations between the two friendly countries, including trade and investment, tourism, security, sports and culture, technical training, ICT, technological transfer and scholarships for Kenyan students. His first appointment was with his Serbian Counterpart H.E Nemanja Stevanovic, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and they agreed to cooperate in trade and investment in Big 4 Agenda programs, tourism, security, scholarships and multilateralism.

In a meeting with Prof. Bojan Tubic, Assistant Minister for Education, Science and Technological Development, the two ministers agreed to cooperate in education, specifically twinning of Foreign Service Academies, Universities, Technical Training Institutes, teacher and student exchange programs, scientific research and scholarships. CAS Ababu further met Ivana Dedic, Serbian Assistant Minister responsible for Contemporary Arts and Creative Industry, Ministry of Culture and Media. They discussed Cultural Cooperation through twining national museums and archives, theatres, libraries, festivals and artists of Kenya and Serbia.

Hon Ababu also graced the 42nd Belgrade International Fair and visited the Kenyan exhibition booth. The exhibition, officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications H.E. Rasim Ljajic aims to promote tourism and investment.

CAS Ababu took some time off this relentless schedule to pay respect to the memory of iconic Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito at the National Museum’s House of Flowers where he and his wife rest eternal. Tito had a strong bond with Africa, playing a significant role in the liberation struggle against colonialism. He visited Kenya on 13 February, 1970 as guest of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta with whom he forged a tight personal bond. An avid hunter, among the artefacts displayed at his museum are horns of an antelope from his wild game hunting safari in Kenya.

The CAS concludes his visit with two further meetings with the Ministers for Agriculture and for Sports, respectively, to explore cooperation in food security and possible support for national football team Harambee Stars, including training camps in the midst of world cup qualifiers.

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MFA PRESS

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 10, 2020 – Amb. Raychelle Omamo Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Monday in Addis urged the international community to double concerted efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism.

The Kenyan Minister who is representing President Uhuru Kenyatta at the ongoing 33rd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa challenged all partners to strengthen coordination to deal with the new asymmetrical threats to international peace and security.

On the situation in the Horn of Africa Cabinet Secretary Omamo called for support to Somalia to build capacity for its Forces to take up the responsibility of their country’s security and for the conditions-based withdrawal of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Amb. Omamo reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to AMISOM and urged the international community to ensure predictable funding that is necessary to deliver sustainable peace and stability in Somalia.

In her presentation of Kenya’s response to the AU Report on Peace and Security for 2019, Amb. Omamo also thanked the Summit for honoring the late President Daniel Arap Moi with a moment of silence and citing his contributions to promotion of peace and security in Africa and beyond.

The AU Report in part asserts “AMISOM has continued to support the efforts of the Federal Republic of Somalia to ensure inclusive politics, particularly the enhancement of its relations with the Federal Member States. This includes the preparation for the state-level elections in Jubaland and efforts by the FGS and Jubaland authorities to address the political situation in the immediate aftermath of the elections.” Through AMISOM Kenya supports the stabilization of Somalia, contributes to international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism and promotion of regional peace and stability.

Cabinet Secretary is accompanied by Amb. Tom Amolo Special Envoy for Kenya’s United Nation Security Council Bid and Amb. John Tipis, Director for Africa and AU Affairs.

Amb. Raychelle Omamo Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs February 7, received Mr. Atanu Chakraborty Secretary for Economic Affairs Secretary of India.

During the meeting, Mr. Chakraborty delivered a request for Kenya to support the convening of the India-Africa Summit which is proposed for later this year.

Cabinet Secretary Omamo briefed the Indian diplomat on Kenya’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period of 2021-2022. She affirmed that Kenya is Africa’s candidate for the position and requested for India’s support and to vote for Kenya.

The Cabinet Secretary and the Indian senior diplomat agreed on the need to enhance partnership between the two countries.

Amb Raychelle Omamo Cabinet Secretary held consultations with Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat Chairperson of the African Union Commission at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Amb Omamo who is leading the Kenyan delegation to the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Summit, underscored Kenya’s commitment to the aspirations of the confidential body and reaffirmed that Kenya will continue to play its rightful role in promotion of peace and security in the region. She appreciated AU’s endorsement of Kenya as Africa’s candidate for a non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022 and expressed Kenya’s conviction on the need to protect the integrity of the Union and fidelity to its procedures.

Mr. Moussa Mahamat congratulated Amb Omamo for the appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and thanked Kenya for its strong commitment to AU including regional integration as exemplified in the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta towards the fast-tracking the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and role in bolstering peace and stability in Africa as in the case of Somalia, South Sudan and the Sudan. The Chairperson noted that the AU will continue to look up-to Kenya among other countries for leadership in realizing silencing guns in Africa in line with the theme of the Summit and for the successful institutional reform of the organization.