Downtown Africa
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday expressed a need to strengthen Kenya-UK commercial ties following the trade deal signed late last year between the two countries.
Kenyatta who held talks with visiting British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab in Nairobi thanked London, saying the pact would help create employment for Kenyan youth and improve the country’s economic performance.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, Kenyatta urged British investors to take advantage of the trade deal and Kenya’s stable business environment to increase their investments in the country and boost trade between the two nations.
The two leaders also discussed climate change and Kenya’s environmental conservation agenda with Kenyatta highlighting some recent achievements in the sector.
“We have gone to great lengths in ensuring we restore and conserve our water towers, and we believe this is an area we can closely collaborate in for the good of the planet,” the President told the visiting delegation that included James Duddridge, UK’s Under-Secretary of State for Africa.
The president said Kenya was working hard to achieve the 10 percent national tree cover target as part of a broad conservation agenda that includes promotion of renewable energy to combat climate change.
On his part, Raab acknowledged Kenya’s growing importance as a key development partner of Britain noting that despite disruptions brought about by COVID-19, the two nations were able to negotiate and conclude a progressive post-BREXIT trade pact.
“Kenya is a key partner in development, and we will continue working together to achieve our development agenda to improve our citizens’ livelihoods,” Raab told Kenyatta.
