Source: British High Commission Nairobi |

UK Secretary of State for International Development visits Kenya

UK Secretary of State for International Development visits Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 27, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ --

Britain’s Secretary of State for International Development, The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, has finished a two day visit to Kenya to discuss two key UK-Kenyan strategic objectives: the handling of refugees and UK support for Kenya’s rapidly growing economy.

Following the UK’s ground-breaking approach to protracted refugee crises, the Secretary of State met the Kenyan Government to discuss the possibilities for working more effectively in its own support for several hundred thousand refugees in Kenya. At the Kakuma Refugee camp in Turkana, accompanied by Governor Nanok, the Secretary of State heard first-hand about the challenges faced by refugees and host communities alike, and paid special tribute to the Government and people of Kenya for their long record of providing life-saving protection.

Alongside this vital shared priority, the Secretary of State also spent time discussing Kenya’s economic development, including a visit to Mombasa Port. The UK-driven Trade Mark East Africa has already achieved transformations which are a key strategic asset for Kenya and East Africa more broadly. The Secretary of State held discussions with business leaders on investment and growth opportunities to ensure Kenya benefits from its growing youth population and finished her visit at the Mombasa Youth Employment Programme (Kuza), which supports the economic empowerment of low-income youths to tackle violent extremism.

Speaking at the end of the visit, The Secretary of State said:

“It is vital that the UK works with countries such as Kenya on shared priorities like dealing more effectively with the challenges of refugees and shaping economic growth to create jobs – which is the best way to reduce extreme poverty. Investment in Mombasa Port is not just about Kenya but East Africa too. This smart UK aid delivers significant results on shared UK-Kenya priorities and is part of the doubling of DFID’s economic development programme over the last two years”.

The Secretary of State’s visit preceded that of Prime Minister David Cameron, which is planned for later in the year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British High Commission Nairobi.