Kenya and South Africa sign eight cooperation agreements

Joint image of Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta with South Africa president. /KBC

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, on Tuesday, witnessed the signing of eight key agreements shortly after chairing a two-nation summit at Union buildings in Pretoria.

The eight agreements include agreements in the transport, health, diplomatic and training sectors as well as the tourism and immigration sectors.

Other agreements signed refer to air travel services between the two countries as well as conciliation agreements on government printing works and the free translation of people and goods between the two countries.

Addressing the media after the signing ceremony, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the 30-year diplomatic relationship between the two countries had improved. He reiterated Kenya's commitment to cooperating with South Africa in defending the interests of the citizens of the two countries.

"Apart from having strong ties in various fields, Kenya and South Africa are close allies at the regional and international level," President Kenyatta said on the second day of his three-day visit to South Africa.

Meanwhile, President Kenyatta congratulated his host President Ramaphosa on his wise leadership when he chaired the African Union in 2020.

For his part, President Ramaphosa said President Kenyatta's visit to the country provided an opportunity to further strengthen relations between the two countries for the benefit of its citizens.

President Kenyatta was initially greeted with a host of his own, including a 21-tank salute, a military patrol inspection before a face-to-face consultation with President Ramaphosa.

President Kenyatta was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Raychelle Omamo, his industrial and trade development counterpart Betty Maina, Tourism Minister Najib Balala, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe and Transport, Infrastructure and Housing Minister James Macharia.

Others included housing and urban welfare secretary Charles Hinga, Nzioka Waita chief executive officer and deputy chief executive officer Muigai Mwangi.