Kenya's thank you to Germany for assistance

President Mwai Kibaki meets Mr Dirk Niebel, the Federal German Minister for Economic Cooperation and development at his office in Harambee House.

NAIROBI (KWP) - President Mwai Kibaki today welcomed Germany’s support to the Kenya Government’s efforts to mitigate the drought situation in the country.


 Saying his Government has moved to put in place both immediate and long term measures to bolster food security in the country,
President Kibaki appreciated Germany’s pledge to provide over Kshs 15 billion for the region, half of which will be given to Kenya to help in facilitating the shift from reliance on rain-fed agriculture to irrigation.
The President was speaking today at his Harambee House office during a meeting with visiting Federal German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Mr. Dirk Niebel who paid him a courtesy call.
Noting that Kenya is set to organize an international food security conference next month, the Head of State urged Germany and other development partners to support the initiative that is geared towards ensuring sustainable strategies to put at bay food insecurity in the region.
President Kibaki also called on the international community to set camp in Somalia and assist the Somalis from within to curb the influx of refugees into Kenya.
On regional peace and security, the President appealed to the international community to enhance their support to the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) troops to enable them carry out their security mandate in Somalia successfully.
President Kibaki noted that peace and stability in Somalia was not only beneficial to Somalia and Kenya but the region as a whole.
President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who was present during the meeting, assured of peaceful election next year, saying the Government is implementing the new Constitution and enacting other laws that will guard against violence and related vices.
On his part, the Federal German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development reassured the President of his Government’s continued support not only towards alleviating the drought situation but also in other development areas.
Mr. Niebel lauded Kenya’s peace initiatives in the region and assured that Germany will continue working with the Government of Kenya in ensuring food security and stability in the region.
The German Minister’s visit to Kenya is a follow up to the German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel’s visit last month where she pledged 1 million Euros to assist refugees in Dadaab camp and the surrounding communities.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Ministers Esther Murugi and Prof. George Saitoti, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura and the Kenyan ambassador to Germany Mr. Ken Nyaucho Osinde.
Earlier at his Harambee House office, President Kibaki held a meeting with the Coca Cola Central, East and West Africa Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nathan Kalumbu who paid him a courtesy call.
During the meeting, Mr. Kalumbu commended the Government’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the effects of drought in hard hit areas in Kenya and reiterated his company’s commitment to public-private partnership as part of a long term solution to the challenges facing the country.
Source: PPS