Kenyan envoy bids farewell to Kagame

The outgoing Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda, Rose Makena Muchiri, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame to bid him farewell after concluding a two and a half years tour of duty in Rwanda.

 

The outgoing Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda, Rose Makena Muchiri, yesterday, paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame to bid him farewell after concluding a two and a half year tour of duty in Rwanda.Makena, who is leaving Rwanda following her appointment as Kenya’s ambassador to the Netherlands, expressed gratitude to the “wonderful reception received while in Rwanda.”

“Kenya continues to enjoy a strong and good relationship with Rwanda and business between the two countries has grown at a fast pace,” Makena told journalists shortly after meeting the President at Village Urugwiro. 

She stated that during her term office, cooperation between the two countries in the areas of education, agriculture, energy and military grew stronger.  

Makena has been at the forefront in implementing Kenya-Rwanda joint permanent commission for cooperation agreement signed in March 2011 in Nairobi.

The two countries have also worked together in the area of investment promotion, health, transport and communication.

Increased cooperation

“The Kenyan Diaspora in Rwanda are enjoying the good relations between the two countries. We appreciate the good leadership of this country under President Paul Kagame,” she noted.

Since Rwanda’s entry into the East African Community in 2009, investments and trade between Kenya and Rwanda have continued to increase and today Kenya ranks as the lead exporter to Rwanda.

A number of Kenyan firms have established themselves in Rwanda among them, Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Nakumatt Supermarket.

Rwandan companies have also opened business in Kenya, particularly Bank of Kigali (BK), which opened its office in the Kenyan capital Nairobi this week.

“During her mandate, business exchanges between the two countries increased and more Kenyan companies are investing in Rwanda,” said Mary Baine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She said that during the meeting with the President, the Kenyan diplomat briefed the former on what has been achieved during her term of office.

Recently the cabinet meeting approved John Mwangemi as the new Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda.