What Presidents Uhuru and Suluhu said after holding bilateral talks at State House Nairobi

By James Macharia   

In talks that lasted for more than two hours on Tuesday May 4 between President Uhuru and his Tanzanians counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House, Nairobi, the two dwelt on improving bilateral trade relations.

In the meeting, the two presidents deliberated on a number of issues to improve trade, one of them being the free flow of commodities in and out of the two states.

Addressing the media immediately after the talks, President Suluhu, said that they talked on the ongoing plan to construct a pipeline that would ease the transport of gas from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa.

This would be very instrumental, as President Uhuru pointed out that it would lower the cost of power energy in Kenya and that of electricity.

President Suluhu said that the relationship between Kenya and Tanzania was not only a neighborhood relationship but also a brotherly one.

Uhuru said that the talks also captured security matters between the two states as well as Social integration and Tourism.

He added that they agreed to lift and loosen restrictions on the boarders of the two countries to enhance Tourism.

Suluhu revealed that investment between Kenya and Tanzania will be heightened, noting that Kenya was ranking number 5 globally, in the list of countries investing in Tanzania and number 1 in East African States.

She also said that Kenya is home to 31 Tanzanian companies that are operational and they were on a top gear to take the relationship a notch higher.

The two Presidents witnessed the signing of MOU’s on natural gas transportation, animal health and sanitary measures, culture, the arts, social integration and national heritage, shortly after bilateral talks between Kenya and Tanzania.

President Suluhu officially invited Uhuru to Tanzania on December this year when they will be celebrating their 60th year since independence, an event believe to reciprocate the state welcome the President has been accorded in Kenya.

“President Uhuru has talked about the boundaries, we shall sit down and work on that. Today I want to say that my entourage and I feel at home here in Kenya. Thank you so much.”

In the brief, Suluhu said that together with President Kenyatta have agreed on rallying health Ministers of both states to work in close partnership to come up with workable containment measures to counter fight the spread to Covid-19.

Apart from uninterrupted flow of commodities, the two presidents also agreed on the free flow of human labour force in and out of the two countries.

“I welcome you to Kenya on your first ever official visit to our country. It is historic. Your visit to Kenya has given us an opportunity to renew our bilateral relations. I want to assure you that the Kenyan government will be on the front line working with your government in ensuring peace and prosperity.” Uhuru said.

Suluhu said that her brother, as he referred to him throughout her brief, will be amongst the guests of honor in the event.

She later in the afternoon laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum of Kenya’s Founding Father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi County.

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