Africa
Kenya to have free and fair elections, says incoming US envoy
1 The incoming US ambassador to Kenya, Margaret Whitman, on Friday night expressed her confidence that the general election on August 9 will be free and fair.
2 Speaking as she presented her credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ambassador Whitman said that Kenya too will have a peaceful transition.
3 “…I have no doubt that Kenya will show the world what free and fair elections look like and how peaceful transitions work,” said the new ambassador to Kenya.
4 Ambassador Whitman pledged to use her experience to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries, noting that Kenya is a dynamic economic engine and technology leader in East Africa.
5 “Before I left Washington, President Biden reminded me that a quarter of the world’s population will reside in Africa by 2050.
6 Noting Kenya’s leadership on the continent and beyond, President Biden asked me to use every tool at my disposal.
7 readiness to deepen the ties between our great nations,” he said.
8 During the brief ceremony at Government House in Nairobi, President Kenyatta also received credentials from incoming ambassadors Sebastian Groth of Germany, Kamal Gubara Mohamed of Sudan and Bacha Debele Buta of Ethiopia.
9 The new German ambassador to Kenya said that his country has been a close and committed partner of Kenya for decades and that he is determined to further develop that cooperation.
10 For their part, the new ambassadors from Ethiopia and Sudan pledged to work hard to ensure that they succeed in enhancing the strong multifaceted diplomatic relations between Kenya and their respective countries.
11 Upon receiving the credentials of the new envoys, President Kenyatta assured them of his support as they embark on their tour of duty in the country.
12 At a separate function at Government House in Nairobi, President Kenyatta handed over land titles to five East African countries that have been allocated land in the Naivasha Special Economic Zone. The five countries were Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
13 The Secretary of the Cabinet for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Raychelle Omamo and Principal Secretary Amb. Macharia Kamau among others.
