President Uhuru Kenyatta met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on May 10, 2017. [Photo/PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday as part of his campaign to bolster trade, immigration and security cooperation with the Northern Africa powerhouse.
President Al-Sisi hosted the meeting at Cairo International Airport.
President Kenyatta was in the Egyptian capital for a refueling stop on his way to the United Kingdom for the 3rd London Conference on Somalia which he will attend on Thursday.
The Cairo Summit is among a host of meetings President Kenyatta will hold with global leaders during a frenetic schedule of engagement in the month of May to promote Kenya’s investment credentials, improve intra-Africa trade cooperation and seeking partnerships to continue to strengthen the nation’s security.
The President’s agenda is to continue delivery of quality jobs.
President Al-Sisi paid a State visit to Kenya earlier in the year and the Cairo stop was necessary for the two leaders to review progress in implementing a host of measures they agreed on — including fighting terrorism, security cooperation, and expanding Kenyan exports to Egypt, especially for tea and flowers.
The leaders also discussed collaboration and cooperation in the immigration area. This included immigration training and technology exchange programs on fraud detection and prevention, best border management practice and information exchange on criminals, terrorists and organized gangs.
Kenya has also asked Egypt to consider visa waiver for official passport holders as well as public servants travelling on official duties.
Ultimately, President Kenyatta is pressing Egypt for the removal of visa requirement between the two countries to allow free movement of people to boost trade relations.
President Kenyatta departed Nairobi for the United Kingdom via Egypt earlier on Wednesday.
On Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta met Benin President Patrice Talon with whom he discussed expanding Kenyan exports to the West African nation, the possibility of Kenya Airways — under the open skies policy — exploring short haul flights from Cotonou into West Africa, and support for capacity building for the Benin public service.
President Talon is in Kenya to attend the African Trade Insurance Agency’s (ATI) Conference.
He is lobbying for the Benin capital Cotonou to host ATI’s regional office for West Africa.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who is accompanying the President, also met Egypt’s First Lady Entissar Al-Sisi.