President Uhuru Kenyatta with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing a joint press briefing at statehouse in Nairobi on Tuesday July 5,2016.
BY THOMAS KARIUKI.
Israel’s marriage to Africa is reaffirmed after its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Kenya for a three day visit, then to other countries in the continent.
Affirming the relationship between Israel and Kenya, PM Netanyahu referred fondly to Kenya as Israel’s natural friends.
Netanyahu is the first head of Israel’s government to visit Kenya, following an invitation by President Uhuru Kenyatta in February.
“This is his first stop on a tour of Africa,” State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said in a statement on Sunday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta invited Netanyahu for talks on strengthening relations as Kenya seeks to expand international trade.
“The relations between the countries are strong and the two heads of government are keen to continue expanding and deepening the,” said Esipisu.
He said the president is also keen ont deepening trade and investment and will be looking to engage Israeli business leaders.
President Uhuru and PM Netanyahu are expected to sign or reaffirm various agreements.
“This will signify that relations between the two nations have entered a new phase of closer cooperation and partnership,” said Esipisu.
In February, Kenya and Israel signed an agreement paving way for stronger collaboration on transport, and water and irrigation projects.
The agreements included direct flights between Nairobi and Tel Aviv and increasing the number of students studying dry-land farming technologies.
Kenya has also discussed security and the threat of terrorism with the visiting Israeli leader.
The agenda of terrorists is to kill, Netanyahu noted in Jerusalem last year during a meeting with DP Ruto, and advised Kenya to deal with them ruthlessly.
