Bilateral trade between Nairobi and Tel Aviv expected to boom after Uhuru pays Netanyahu a three day visit
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday February 22, 2016 left Nairobi for Tel Aviv for three days where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Kenyan plane carrying the president left Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at midday.
Here is a quick rundown of items topping the agenda of the visit:
3. Combating the challenge of terrorism
Kenya has been battling the threat posed by Islamic militants al-Shabaab who recently attacked a Kenya Defence Forces camp in Somalia leaving tens of soldiers dead.
The security agencies in Kenya have been on high alert to thwart terror plots by the insurgents.
Kenya and Israel share the challenge of terrorism and Israel has been training the Kenyan security personnel and offering technical support.
State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu notes that the cooperation between the two countries is expected to be heightened and sharing of intelligence between the two countries strengthened.
“President Kenyatta will tell Israel that he expects Kenya can count on the state’s support and cooperation and benefit from its long expertise in this area. Kenya believes terrorism is a global war that requires a global approach.”
2. Bilateral trade
A number of Israel companies do business in Kenya in fields such as agriculture, construction, communications, infrastructure, water management and irrigation.
It is expected that at the end of the three-day meeting that trade volumes between the two countries will improve substantially.
Esipisu notes that the country has many investment opportunities that can be considered, especially in the area of infrastructure.
1. Israel support to Kenya
State House noted that a part of the talks with Israel are meant to strengthen the support that Tel Aviv offers Nairobi through its agency for international development.
Among the sectors that have benefited from this cooperation have been: agriculture and irrigation, health, water and sanitation, education, disaster management and security.
