ADDIS ABABA,
President
Uhuru Kenyatta has called on African leaders to prioritise and
fast-track integration processes for the continent to develop quicker.
Uhuru Kenyatta has called on African leaders to prioritise and
fast-track integration processes for the continent to develop quicker.
The President said the current leaders need to learn from founding fathers and unite the people in order to achieve this goal.
President
Kenyatta further called for the removal of all systemic barriers that
hinder the blossoming of people-to-people relations in Africa.
Kenyatta further called for the removal of all systemic barriers that
hinder the blossoming of people-to-people relations in Africa.
“We
need to build on the warm relations between our governments and include
our populations so as to foster interactions,” he said.
need to build on the warm relations between our governments and include
our populations so as to foster interactions,” he said.
CHALLENGES
President Kenyatta said that for Africa to defeat ignorance,
diseases and poverty, challenges that have suppressed the continent for
decades must be addressed by a united force.
diseases and poverty, challenges that have suppressed the continent for
decades must be addressed by a united force.
“Our
people should be [allowed] to travel throughout their continent freely
without any hindrances. We are all brothers and sisters with a common
heritage,” he said.
people should be [allowed] to travel throughout their continent freely
without any hindrances. We are all brothers and sisters with a common
heritage,” he said.
He spoke on
Saturday evening at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
during a State dinner hosted in his honour by Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde.
Saturday evening at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
during a State dinner hosted in his honour by Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde.
MODERN CITIES
While
commending the Ethiopian leaders for the progress in their country, Mr
Kenyatta said Kenya was keen on participating in the planned
regeneration of Addis Ababa into a modern African city.
commending the Ethiopian leaders for the progress in their country, Mr
Kenyatta said Kenya was keen on participating in the planned
regeneration of Addis Ababa into a modern African city.
“Our
African capitals belong to all of us. Addis Ababa belongs to Kenyans
just like Nairobi belongs to Ethiopians. We therefore need to partner in
the transformation our cities,” he said.
African capitals belong to all of us. Addis Ababa belongs to Kenyans
just like Nairobi belongs to Ethiopians. We therefore need to partner in
the transformation our cities,” he said.
“It
doesn’t make any sense for fellow Africans to keep spending our hard
earned money in other people’s countries when we can develop our cities
to world class standards. Kenya will participate in the modernisation of
Addis Ababa by sending a team of entrepreneurs.”
doesn’t make any sense for fellow Africans to keep spending our hard
earned money in other people’s countries when we can develop our cities
to world class standards. Kenya will participate in the modernisation of
Addis Ababa by sending a team of entrepreneurs.”
PM
Ahmed thanked President Kenyatta for agreeing to be part of the Addis
Ababa modernisation project and said all countries in East Africa should
work on regenerating their capitals.
Ahmed thanked President Kenyatta for agreeing to be part of the Addis
Ababa modernisation project and said all countries in East Africa should
work on regenerating their capitals.
While
recalling the hospitality she enjoyed in Nairobi while serving at the
United Nations before assuming her current position, President Zewde
thanked President Kenyatta and Mr Ahmed for rekindling the countries’
relations.
recalling the hospitality she enjoyed in Nairobi while serving at the
United Nations before assuming her current position, President Zewde
thanked President Kenyatta and Mr Ahmed for rekindling the countries’
relations.
Ms Zwede termed Kenya Ethiopia’s true friend, citing visa-free travel for Ethiopian citizens as a true demonstration of this.
INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Earlier
on Saturday, President Kenyatta accompanied the Prime Minister to the
opening of Debre Birhan Industrial Park in the Amhara region during
celebrations to mark the Victory of Adwa.
on Saturday, President Kenyatta accompanied the Prime Minister to the
opening of Debre Birhan Industrial Park in the Amhara region during
celebrations to mark the Victory of Adwa.
Every
March 1, Ethiopians celebrate the defeat of the colonial Italian forces
in 1896, by warriors led by Emperor Menelik II, near the town of Adwa
in the Tigray region.
March 1, Ethiopians celebrate the defeat of the colonial Italian forces
in 1896, by warriors led by Emperor Menelik II, near the town of Adwa
in the Tigray region.
The park, built on 1,100 hectares of land at $75 million, will help create jobs for about 1,000 Ethiopians.
Ethiopia
is planning five similar installations to increase the number of
industrial parks to 30, the goal being to make the country a
manufacturing hub and improve the lower-middle-income economy by 2025.
is planning five similar installations to increase the number of
industrial parks to 30, the goal being to make the country a
manufacturing hub and improve the lower-middle-income economy by 2025.