Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma Defends President Uhuru's Frequent Foreign Trips

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary ambassador Monica Juma has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta's frequent foreign visits.

Juma, while speaking to the press in Nairobi, said the president's overseas trips were beneficial since they have helped build Kenya's image in the global stage as well as sell Kenya as an investment hub.

The Cabinet Secretary further disclosed that President Kenyatta has made a total of 49 foreign trips since he assumed office in 2013. She said the trips have consolidated the country's relevance internationally.

"Looking back to the last six years, I can confidently confirm that the high-level diplomacy paradigm has yielded manifold outcomes in three broad spheres; Kenya has established solid and productive relationships across the world - in Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe, Asia and the other parts of the world," Juma said.

She added: "Nairobi has become one of the most visited capitals for foreign heads of state and heads of government and preferred destination for international meetings and conferences, and most fundamentally, interest and investment in our country has grown a thousand fold – translating into economic growth."

She also noted that Kenyatta has made six high-level foreign trips this year aimed at building partnerships in trade, regional peace and security.

This year, the President has visited Cuba, United States, United Kingdom and China where he cut different deals ranging from trade, security and partnerships in several other areas.

"Besides the specifics outlined above, the engagements offered the opportunities for closer bilateral collaboration with the countries involved in line with the aspirations of the Kenya’s Foreign Policy as Kenya strives to entrench her leadership as an economic power within the region as well as achieve a desirable competitiveness globally," CS Juma said.