Kenya to pilot US feeding initiative

By Chris Wamalwa in Boston, Massachusetts

Kenya has been chosen as a focus country for President Barack Obama’s $3.5 billion 'Feed the Future Initiative' that is intended to deal with the perennial food insecurity and promote prosperity, US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger has said.

Ranneberger said the initiative would address the needs of small-scale farmers and agri-businesses and harness the power of women to drive the economic growth.

"Two weeks ago, I announced an initial commitment of $29

million to support Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Development Strategy through this initiative," he added.

Ranneberger was addressing Kenya Diaspora Investment Conference in Massachusetts, in the US, noted that the recent impressive 5.4 per cent economic growth rate that exceeded estimates and expectations, was driven by agricultural, construction, manufacturing and financial sectors.

The envoy urged Kenyans in the US to spearhead efforts aimed at sustaining this progress.

"After spending yesterday on the campus of Harvard University with some of the best and brightest young Kenyans I met, I’m more optimist about Kenya’s future. I believe that Kenyan-Americans will be the positive force behind the "New Kenya" and will deepen the already close ties that bind our two countries," he added.

Ranneberger challenged Kenyans in Diaspora to drive the global economic growth saying the new constitution that recognises dual citizenship was meant to facilitate this.

"With your roots in Kenya, you are already familiar with the country, its challenges and its opportunities. But perhaps you have been away for a while. I want to tell you today, there are good things happening in Kenya. Kenya is once again ripe for business and investment," the envoy the gathering.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who was supposed to be the chief guest, did not turn up because he had to attend to ‘urgent matters’ in Nairobi.

Kenya’s acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Josephine Ojiambo, said the government was extending concessions on the Diaspora remittances for investments.

"The Mission, together with the Embassy in Washington, DC will

follow up and provide details on these concessions in due course," Dr. Ojiambo said.

Speaking at the same function, Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonga praised Kenyans in Diaspora saying they contribute towards national goals.

"The government has established a Directorate of Diaspora Affairs and an office for international jobs within the ministry whose main purpose are to ensure that the Diaspora are facilitated with right information, opportunities and friendly policies so as to encourage them to continue playing their role in national development," he said.

The three-day investment conference whose theme is ‘Tap Into Wealth’ that started on Thursday and ended on Saturday was organised by Kenya Investment Authority in conjunction with the African American Lifestyle Magazine and various other private sector business from Kenya and the US.

Other speakers during the conference were World Bank country director Johannes Zutt, Kenya Investment Authority managing director Susan Kikwai, Ushindi Mobile Money director Lee Karuri, among others.