Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed a deal with the United Kingdom to boost fight against corruption in the country.
At a joint press briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, the two leaders disclosed a pact that will see repatriation of assets and proceeds of crime to Kenya.
The tough talking President Uhuru noted that fighting corruption is important for the country just as the Big Four Agenda and he will going forward make it more painful and unrewarding for individuals to engage in the crime.
“We have agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May on modalities of bringing back to the country proceeds of crime and stolen assets, this will boost war on corruption that has denied Kenyans important services that they deserve,” he said.
Prime Minister May also confirmed the agreement during the afternoon press briefing.
Early July, President Uhuru signed a similar deal with Switzerland to facilitate the return of stolen cash, in a development targeting an estimated KSh72 billion stashed in Swiss accounts.
Although the communique by the two leaders did not mention a specific figure, past reports have placed the amounts stashed by Kenyans in Swiss accounts at between Sh51 billion and Sh72 billion. Theresa May is on her first visit to Africa as a Prime Minister and her tour included South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.
She is accompanied by 29 representatives who will meet with leading businesses, policy makers and entrepreneurs in order to build new investment, trading and export ties between the UK and these emerging markets.
President Uhuru said the two countries agreed to work together on matters trade, security, and access to United Kingdom after the Brexit and the increase of broader exports for Kenya companies.
The President welcomed United Kingdom’s commitment to support AMISOM after PM May disclosed that she will be announcing a new package of funding for the AMISOM.
“I encourage British investors to align their investments to the governments Big Four projects which some are in the blue economy-deep sea fishing in various parts of our country,” he said.
PM May said she was happy with the ongoing political reconciliation in the country and promised to support the Uhuru-Raila Building Bridges Initiative.
Credit: The Standard
