The Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua today held a meeting with the outgoing British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott and discussed areas of collaboration between the UK and Kenya.
The Deputy President lauded the UK as an important trade and development partner for Kenya.
“We don’t need to emphasise on the relationship between Kenya and the United Kingdom. Our history is a long one and a good one. That is why the president found time to go and attend the coronation. As trading partners, we are doing very well. And we will do better as we go along.” He said.
The discussion centered around security in the northern parts of Kenya ahead of the upcoming Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia borderlands project, a cross border project seeking to enhance peace and stability and strengthen social and economic diversity in the border areas between Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. The project integrates ongoing security development and peace building efforts and strengthens effectiveness of national responses to insecurity along the border.
Gachagua emphasised that the government is keen on enhancing security in the northern part of Kenya saying the areas which have vast lands have the potential of sorting out the food insecurity problem that has gripped the country.
“Northern Kenya is our priority because there are vast lands and great and huge potential for food security. If we can open up that area by doing roads, connectivity to electricity, and then dams and irrigation, we will, in a very comprehensive manner, address our challenges. We really want to appreciate the contribution of your government in trying to open up north eastern and northern Kenya. We do not take it for granted. As we grapple with the challenges and effects of climate change, we are convinced that Northern Kenya should be a priority so that we do not take emergency food to those areas, but we receive surplus food from those areas to feed the rest of the country.” The DP said.
“We think a secure and stable Northern Kenya is the best thing for this country because we will be able to put resources there to do food production and support the country. We need sustainable interventions so that we do not have to deal with emergencies all the time.” He added.
