President Uhuru Kenyatta secures major funding as Kenya, Japan vow to deepen ties

President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, and agreed to deepen Kenya and Japan’s partnership in infrastructure development, fight against terrorism and other areas.

At the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo, President Uhuru and PM Abe discussed investments in the energy sector, geothermal power development, scholarships for Kenyans, especially in the maritime field, infrastructure, funding Kenya’s universal health care plan and ending the threat of terrorism around the globe.

Abe announced a raft of new initiatives to support Kenya, offering a $33 million facility for President Uhuru’s flagship universal healthcare plan, as well as interest in power, maritime and other high-end infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

President Uhuru called for partnership in fighting terrorism and combating radicalisation by exchanging intelligence information, and encouraged more direct links between the two countries’ respective national security and intelligence agencies.

“We would also partner closely in border and maritime security management in screening, investigation and enhancing our counter-terrorism capabilities,” noted the President. PM Abe concurred, saying: “We want to work with Kenya to secure stability in Africa.”

The President commended Japan’s review of its Official Development Assistance Charter to include cooperation and funding of non-military security projects.

“The non-military assistance – in the amount of $200 million – to countries affected by terrorism in the Middle East and Africa is a very welcome gesture,” the President said. President Uhuru – who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Michael Kamau (Transport) and Henry Rotich (Treasury) – said Japan is a model for Kenya. “We seek to emulate your experience in economic development and in raising the standard of living of the Japanese people.”

The President appreciated Japan’s support to Kenya’s development agenda, especially financing of the Mombasa Port expansion project Phase I and Phase II.

“Japan has also financed the 140 MW Geothermal Power Project in Olkaria 1, at units 4 and 5, which I commissioned last month. This project has improved productivity and competitiveness by lowering the cost of electricity substantially,” President Uhuru said.

He pointed out: “Kenya is now a leader in the development of geothermal power sector in the region as well as globally.”

Early consensus

On the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the President said Kenya is committed to hosting the TICAD VI summit.

“We are working within the African Union framework to reach an early consensus on Kenya’s bid to host TICAD VI,” he said.

Kenya also pledged its support for Japan’s candidature for election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2016/17. President Uhuru said he, within the context of the Committee of 10 of the AU on UN reform, would work with Japan to ensure the UN reform momentum was sustained.

Meanwhile, the President has called for the scaling up of efforts at all levels to reduce disasters and mitigate risks.

He said although the time, place, frequency or magnitude of natural calamities cannot be changed, their impact can be minimised through adequate preparation.

“And because we can, I am here to show solidarity with you, and with the peoples of the world,” President Uhuru told the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which opened on Saturday in the Japanese Eastern city of Sendai.

Significant achievement

He acknowledged that while significant achievement has been made in disaster risk reduction since the 2nd Conference held in Kobe 10 years ago, there was room for improvement.

“This is because disasters remain a major threat to our sustainable development,” the President said. The President cited Africa for instance, where extreme weather patterns have caused droughts and floods, hence threatening the continent’s sustainable development. He also cited earthquakes, tsunamis and tropical storms in the Asia-Pacific region.

Other world leaders, like UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, also concurred on the need to increase funding for disaster risk reduction, noting that disasters are a big challenge to both developed and developing countries.

“We must respond to the world’s growing needs by empowering individuals, supporting communities and backing promises with resources,” the UN Secretary General said.

Other speakers included King Mswati III of Swaziland, President Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), President Baldwin Lonsdale (Vanuatu) and President Emmanuel Mori (Micronesia).