President Uhuru Holds Talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May at State House, Nairobi
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday morning held talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May at State House, Nairobi.
May landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard a chartered Royal Air Force Voyager from Lagos, Nigeria, at 6:30am for her maiden official state visit to Kenya.
May became the first PM to visit Kenya in more than three decades. In her company was a host of investors keen to cut business deals with Kenya.
May received a 19 gun salute upon arrival at the State House, Nairobi.
At State House, Kenyatta and May signed an agreement to repatriate proceeds of corruption and crime hidden in the UK. President Kenyatta said the pact is part of Kenya's efforts to tame corruption.
“We need to make it painfully unrewarding, and expensive to get into corruption,” President Uhuru said in a joint press briefing at State House following bilateral talks with Mrs May.
The two nations also signed an agreement to make sure that the duty free quota for Kenyan products continue even after UK exits the European Union.
On her part, Prime Minister May announced Kenyan and British soldiers will now train together as part of a partnership in the area of security and fight against terrorism.
She said UK aims at becoming one of the largest foreign investor in Kenya and Africa by 2022.
She said: “UK is the largest foreign investor in Kenya and it is our ambition to be the G7’s number one investor in Africa by 2022. As Britain prepares to leave the EU we are committed to smooth transition and continuity in our trading relationship.”
Last year Kenya exported Sh38.55 billion worth of goods to the UK, the highest of the Sh125 billion it earned from Europe. Tea, cut flowers and beans are Nairobi’s top three exports to London.
During the same period, Kenya imported almost a similar amount of goods valued at Sh30 billion from UK. Beside Britain being one of the largest source market for Kenya’s tourism, more than 100 British companies operate in Kenya.
“Kenya is open for business for all. And we are not going out there with a begging bowl. No! We are saying that Kenya is an attractive investment destination for foreign companies to come, and get a very good dividend while creating jobs, and helping us further our development agenda,” President Kenyatta said during the presser.