Raila’s five-day UK tour starts with top level defence talks
Orange party leader Raila Odinga yesterday morning held talks with the United Kingdom Minister for Armed Forces, James Heappey, at the Ministry of Defence in London.
The talks centred on enhancement of the long-standing defence and security partnerships between Kenya and UK. Raila, who is on a five-day tour of UK, expressed interest in ensuring that Kenya and UK fully implement the Defence Co-operation Agreement (DCA) to tackle shared threats across East Africa.
According to Raila, Kenya and the UK have enjoyed decades of military co-operation to tackle regional security challenges, including terrorism.
“The UK has been one of Kenya’s most loyal and dependable defence and security partners,” said Raila.
Under the DCA framework, the UK trains more than 1,100 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers in Kenya and in the UK and through the Counter-IED Wing at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Embakasi.
The UK also extensively backs various infrastructure projects at the KDF School of Infantry in Kenya. It also supports Kenya’s ongoing efforts to restore peace in South Sudan.
“We have had a robust discussion on security matters with a view of enhancing our ties moving into the future,” said Raila. In neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya is working with the UK in the Security Council to restore peace and stability in Tigray region.
Kenya’s High Commissioner in UK Manoah Esipisu, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and Suna East lawmaker Junet Mohamed, accompanied Raila to the meeting.
Junet said that Kenya and Britain have strong and enduring historical relationships, which will deepen their shared prosperity.
More meetings
On Wednesday (today)Raila is scheduled to meet Lord Tarif Ahmed, the UK Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the UN and the Commonwealth – FCDO.
And in the afternoon, he is to speak at Chatham House — a world policy institute facilitating governments and societies to build a sustainable, secure, prosperous and just world.
Last week, Heappey met Deputy President and United Democratic Alliance party leader William Ruto.
Raila is also scheduled to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tomorrow morning, and have an afternoon session with Kenyans living in the UK.
The diaspora population will for the second time vote for their preferred presidential candidate in the August 9 General Election.
