Cabinet approves explosives centre

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday chaired the first Cabinet meeting this year.

The meeting discussed and approved an agreement where Germany has offered to donate 1.8 million euros (Sh207 million) for the construction of a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Centre (C-IED Centre).

The C-IED Centre, which will be a constituent college of the International Peace Support Training Centre, will equip the Kenya Defence Forces personnel with the knowledge and technology to robustly detect and safely disarm IEDs.

The C-IED Centre was deemed useful especially during the period that the KDF will remain in Somalia where IEDs are often used by Al Shabaab militia.

The Cabinet also discussed and approved the hosting of the 23rd session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinating Committee meeting for Africa in Nairobi to be held between September 2 and September 6 this year. 

The meeting agreed that the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee meeting for Africa was important in boosting Kenya’s Big Four agenda, especially the food security and nutrition pillar.

The meeting is expected to provide a platform for the advancement of Kenya’s influence regionally and globally on food safety standards as well as an opportunity for Kenya’s food industry players to showcase their products.

It is also expected to contribute to the promotion of Kenya’s tourism sector and strengthen the country's position as a preferred tourist destination in the continent.