What President Kenyatta discussed with Trump's delegation shortly before he cancelled AU summit trip

david nganga

June 29, 2018 7:52 PM

The President met the US delegation led by Undersecretary Gil Kaplan

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday met a US delegation led by Undersecretary Gil Kaplan to discuss ways of boosting trade and investments between the two countries.

The State House meeting revolved around ways of information sharing on trade and investments between Kenyan and US companies.

"Today’s meeting comes at an opportune time as a Kenyan trade delegation prepares a visit to the US to hold meetings and roadshows to promote Kenya as the preferred destination for US investments on the continent," read part of the statement from the President's press team.

The visit is set to coincide with the first Kenya Airways direct flight to the US in October.

Likewise, the meeting discussed the construction of Kenya’s first high-speed expressway from Mombasa to Nairobi that will be implemented by US engineering and construction company, Bechtel.

Expressway

The high-speed expressway is expected to be one of the most important new infrastructure projects in the East Africa.

President Kenyatta pledged government commitment to derisking projects to ensure they were delivered on time and within budget.

The meeting also discussed an MOU to be signed between the governments of Kenya and the US that will facilitate implementation of infrastructure and the Big Four Agenda projects.

On Thursday, Mr Kenyatta witnessed the signing of deals worth Sh10 billion (approximately US $100m) at the ongoing US-Kenya Trade Conference in Nairobi.

Yesterday's meeting took place shortly before the head-of-state cancelled a trip to the Africa Union summit in Mauritania owing to "urgent State matters."

david nganga