President Kenyatta meets UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

By PSCU/Beth Nyaga

President Uhuru Kenyatta this evening held talks with UK Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Boris Johnson who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi. 

President Kenyatta and the British Foreign Secretary discussed promotion of industry and manufacturing. They also exchanged views on the strengthening of trade between Kenya and Britain as well as with the rest of the Commonwealth countries.

They reviewed the security situation in the region, focusing on the African Union deployment in Somalia under Amisom, the situation in South Sudan, as well as Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The President hailed the existing bilateral relations between Kenya and Britain, saying the visit by the Foreign Secretary was proof of the close cooperation between the two countries.

The British Foreign Secretary – who had earlier held bilateral talks with his Kenyan counterpart Amb. Amina Mohamed and addressed the press – handed over to the President seven ambulances from the proceeds of the Smith and Ouzman case.

Repatriation of proceeds of economic crimes is a key plank of the two governments commitment to fighting corruption.

The British Government had promised to commit to social development projects in Kenya the money recovered from the printing company whose officials were convicted of paying out bribes to Kenyan electoral and examinations officials.

Johnson was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed and other senior Government officials also attended the meeting at State House.