GES 2015 to connect Kenya with world

NAIROBI: As Kenya and the United States of America open up to each other and seek closer political, economic and trade links ahead of the July visit of President Barack Obama, many activities are currently taking place.

Several American delegations have been to Kenya in recent weeks to explore and discuss various mutual activities ahead of the 6th Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) next week.

Most recently, a strong American business delegation was on a visit to Kenya to explore the possibilities for cooperation and investment in this country, whose economy is transforming rapidly within the Eastern African region.

Following the discovery of several highly valuable minerals, including petroleum and natural gas, Kenya has now become a major attraction to international investors from different parts of the world.

When he met with top American Government officials and business executives at State House, Nairobi, recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta invited companies from the United States to play a role in developing a modern public transport system for this country’s capital city, Nairobi. The President urged the American and other interested international companies to invest in the construction and running of a rail system to ease traffic congestion in the city.

In order to save the country millions of shillings in fuel and man-hours that get squandered on a daily basis in traffic congestion within and around Nairobi, the Government wants to develop a mass transit system to ease the traffic congestion in Nairobi, which usually has devastating effects on the economy.

Nairobi is a modern city with a rapidly growing population, which now requires a proper mass transit system. President Kenyatta spoke when he met with an American trade delegation led by US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. The trade mission, which included the US Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Kumar, and more than 30 business executives, was in the country to develop trade ties with Kenya.

The meeting was also attended by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amina Mohamed, acting Cabinet Secretary for Transport James Macharia and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed.

Relations between Kenya and the United States have blown hot and cold in the past few years, due to several factors, including the cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Kenyatta (now withdrawn) and Deputy President Ruto, and the fast growing links with the increasingly powerful People’s Republic of China.

Kenya’s strategic economic, geographical and political position in the region is now gaining much recognition globally. During the State House meeting, Mr Foxx declared that the US Government is also interested in the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project, which will not only link Kenya to its northern neighbours, but also provide a major economic boost by opening up much of the hitherto neglected northern parts of the country.

According to Mr Foxx, the United States wants to get a share of the business involved in the massive project, whose total cost is estimated at several trillion shillings. LAPSSET involves the construction of a ultra-modern seaport in Lamu and of roads and railway lines, as well as an oil pipeline through northern Kenya with links to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

“We are very excited about LAPSSET and we want the American package to be considered,” said the US Secretary. Regarding the upcoming visit of President Obama, the US Secretary of Transportation remarked that the American leader is looking forward to the visit. President Kenyatta noted Kenyans are also eager to see Obama on Kenyan soil.

The President added that the visit will be an opportunity for Kenya and the US to take their friendship forward. Several landlocked neighbouring countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi, largely depend on Kenya’s infrastructure for the transportation of their exports and imports.

Development of the Northern Corridor transport system has become a crucial link in efforts to uplift the economies of the countries and living standards of the people of within the Eastern and Central African region. The LAPSSET project is likely to make a big impact on the region and enable the effective and efficient exploitation and transportation of valuable natural resources and other products. It will also open up most of the northern parts of Kenya to modern agriculture, business and tourism.

President Kenyatta and Mr Foxx also spoke on the process to clear direct flights between the US and Kenya. Foxx told the meeting that he hoped that the process would be concluded very soon. It is now several decades since Kenya and the United States had direct flights, after the collapse of some American airlines such as Pan Am.