NAIROBI, June 23 – Vice President (VP) Kalonzo Musyoka has urged Canada to increase its bilateral engagements with Kenya.
The VP said both countries share long historical ties and need to foster increased trade and investments.
During talks with members of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association in Nairobi on Monday, Musyoka assured that Kenya is now safe for investment after the formation of the Grand Coalition government.
“We encourage our development partners to invest in the country in order to jumpstart economic growth and create employment for the young people who are currently jobless,” the Vice President said.
“We have already launched our roadmap for development, Vision 2030, which is pegged on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals,” Musyoka said.
He singled out unemployment as one of the major challenges facing the youth, making them vulnerable to manipulation from politicians who sponsor violence.
But with an increase in foreign investment in the country, Musyoka said youth would be guaranteed employment opportunities.
The Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association members were led by Senator Raynell Andreychuk, and are touring African countries to familiarise themselves with their parliamentary processes, and to strengthen the Association.
They will also visit Burundi and Rwanda.
Andreychuk said the association was interested in forming multi and bilateral working relations with African Parliaments.
She added that the association was committed to promotion of peace, stability and democracy in the continent.
Meanwhile, Kenya and Morocco have initiated moves which will lead to the signing of a joint air agreement allowing their respective airlines to fly into each others’ territories in the very near future.
Making the announcement in Nairobi on Monday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Taib Fassi Fihri said the move would further strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two nations.
Fihri who paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his Treasury Building office is in the country to deliver a goodwill message from King Mohammed the IV to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the signing of the Peace Accord and the formation of the Grand Coalition Government
Raila said Kenya hoped to expand the existing co-operation and long ties with Morocco, particularly in infrastructural development, trade, tourism and cultural exchange programmes.
He said once the air agreement was signed, Air Morocco and Kenya Airways would fly into Nairobi and Rabat and help spur the economic developments of the two nations.
The PM also disclosed that during their discussions, they agreed that Morocco and Kenya jointly support specific projects in Northern Kenya.
