Uhuru, Ruto meet envoys

Ghana Ambassador to Kenya Kingsley Saka Abdul Karimu delivers President Dramani Mahama's congratulatory message to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi April 2, 2013. PPS 

By PPS
Posted  Tuesday, April 2  2013 at  13:07

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on Tuesday held talks with the envoys of Ghana, Kuwait, Algeria, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates and Malawi.

The envoys were High Commissioner Kingsley Saka Abdul Karimu of Ghana, Ambassador Yaqoub Yousef Eid Al-Sanad of Kuwait, Ambassador Maandi Saad of Algeria, High Commissioner Solomon Oyateru of Nigeria, Ambassador Abdulrazak Mohd Hadi of United Arab Emirates and the Deputy High Commissioner of Malawi Brigadier Mercel Chirwa.

During the meeting, the envoys congratulated Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto on their election as President and Deputy-President.

The envoys further reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the bilateral relations between Kenya and their countries.

The United Arab Emirates Ambassador emphasized the need to link up business communities of the two countries.

He said Emirates businessmen are ready to invest in Kenya particularly in the health and infrastructural sectors among others.

The Emirates ambassador further said that he looked forward to the finalization and signing of pending agreements between Kenya and his country.

On his part, the President-elect said Emirates has a huge number of Kenyans working as expatriates.

Recalling that President Kibaki visited the Emirates seeking to further strengthen the relations, the President-elect expressed optimism that during his tenure he will take the relations to a higher level for the common good of the two countries.

The Nigerian High Commissioner said the Nigerian Government is looking forward to pushing the strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, saying the Joint Permanent Commission Framework Agreement has been concluded and is ready for signing.

The Nigerian High Commissioner added that his country views Kenya as a leader in the East African region while Nigeria is the economic hub in the West African region.

He pointed out that cooperation between the two countries would create a useful link for the benefit of the people of the East and West African regions.

In response, President-elect Kenyatta said he looked forward to the signing of the Joint Permanent Commission Framework Agreement between Nigeria and Kenya.

Ghana High Commissioner Karimu also delivered a congratulatory message from Ghana President John Dramani Mahama. In the message, President Mahama wished the President-elect and his deputy success in discharging their duties.

“It is my conviction that, through the conduct of this fair and transparent electoral process, the people of Kenya have chalked a significant victory and have served notice of their determination to enjoy the benefits of democracy, peace and development,” President Mahama’s congratulatory message said in part.

On their part, the President-elect and Deputy President-elect assured the envoys of their readiness to work with them in bolstering bilateral relations between Kenya and their respective countries.

They noted that Kenya has enjoyed fruitful development and economic ties with the envoys’ countries which the Jubilee Government intends to enhance for the benefits of Kenyans and the people of their respective countries.

The President-elect and his deputy also emphasised that they regard Africa as their first priority in terms of trade and investment.
Later, the President-elect and his deputy were briefed by the Clerk of the National Assembly Justin Mbundi and his Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyengenye.