Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta met with German’s Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral ties.
Kenyatta meets Merkel in talks to strengthen bilateral ties
The meeting focused on security, investment, trade and innovation.
Photos: How Uhuru was received in Germany by Chancellor Angela Merkel https://t.co/4duW4fFg15 via Tuko_co_ke
— Kamau GABRIEL: (kamaugabriel1) April 7, 2016
During the landmark talks Merkel called Kenya a strategic partner. Kenya is a major German trading partner in Africa and the two states have cordial relations.
“This has to be complemented by more economic cooperation. And here, in many ways, Kenya is an anchor of stability also for the German business community. A new office has been opened there. We have now direct flights from Europe to Kenya again; tourism is a very strong link between our countries,” Merkel said.
Germany is ranked the 4th largest investor in Kenya. Furthermore, over 100 German firms operate in the East African country with an investment value of about 120 million US dollars.
Development cooperation between the two has continued to grow, culminating in the commitment by the European country of 390.3 million euros towards Kenya’s development for a period of three years.
The two leaders also laid the importance of working together in fighting terrorism.
“We also had the opportunity to talk and discuss peace and security, especially with regards to terrorism. And indeed I did highlight the need for all of us to work on much closer cooperation, on matters of security, especially in light of the global terror networks that are currently taking place. This is not a problem that is particular to Kenya. It is a problem that affects all of us,” Kenyatta said.
Kenya has experienced a spate of grenades, bombs and armed attacks since 2012. The main threat is from extremists linked to al-Shabaab, a militant group in Somalia angered by Kenya’s military intervention in the war torn country.