President Uhuru Kenyatta with outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Kenya, Deniz Eke. [Photo/PSCU]

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed Kenya’s cooperation with Turkey and Iraq.

President Kenyatta said relations between Kenya and the two countries have been enhanced in the last five years, especially in security and trade.

The President was speaking today at State House, Nairobi, today when he separately bid farewell to Turkish Ambassador Deniz Eke and Iraqi Ambassador Zaid Izzadin Mohammednoori whose tour of duty in the country has ended.

The Head of State commended the envoys for the role they played in bolstering relations between Kenya and their countries.

Bidding farewell to Ms Eke, the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Kenya, President Kenyatta lauded the enhanced cooperation between Kenya and Turkey both at bilateral and multilateral levels, especially in counter-terrorism, agriculture, health, and trade.

The President noted that his visit to Turkey and the reciprocal visit to Kenya by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan deepened the growing ties between the two countries.

On her part, Ambassador Eke commended President Kenyatta’s big four pillars of development priorities in his second term, saying they will go a long way in lifting the lives of Kenyans.

The President’s big four pillars are pegged on improving the quality of life through the provision of universal health care, increasing access to affordable housing and ensuring food and nutritional security.  They also include enhancing job creation and opportunities for young people by focusing on the expansion of the manufacturing sector.

While bidding farewell to the Iraqi Ambassador, President Kenyatta welcomed the growing cooperation between Kenya and Iraq in the areas of science, culture, technology, and training of diplomats.

The two countries last year signed an agreement to share expertise to boost the training of diplomats in both countries. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Nairobi signaled the growing ties between Kenya and Iraq.

The Iraqi envoy said his country appreciates the role Kenya has played in fostering peace and security in the region.

Ambassador Mohammednoori thanked President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for making his tour of duty successful.

“I wish to thank the people of Kenya for their cooperation and hospitality that ensured my tour of duty was not only fruitful but also interesting,” Mr Mohammednoori said.