Inside DP Gachagua's busy week at global stage

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had a busy week with high level engagements at the international front.

Gachagua represented the country at the United Nations Food Systems Summit in Rome, Italy, which started on Monday.

The high-level Summit provided Kenya with a timely opportunity to showcase what the government is doing to enhance food systems amid the vagaries of Climate Change and other emerging challenges.

Monday

On Monday, Gachagua held an engagement with Kenyans living and working in Italy.

''Kenyans across the World have demonstrated hardwork, resilience, discipline, and patriotism. We salute all Kenyans living and working abroad for living true to Kenya and being good ambassadors for our great Nation,'' he said during the meeting.

Earlier that day, he met with Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who told him that they have never had a single problem with Kenyans living in Rome.

He also attended the UN Food Systems Summit in Rome, Italy, where he participated in a high-level Summit.

''As Kenya intensifies the implementation of strategies for sustainable food security, global partnership and a review of Funding Food System will accelerate zero hunger, improved health, and access to quality education, among other Goals under Agenda 2030,'' he said.

He also spoke on how Kenya has re-engineered its Financing Food Systems Transformation through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, Gachagua held a high-level bilateral discussion with United Arab Emirates' Minister for Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri in Rome, Italy.

The two discussed building synergies and momentum towards the upcoming Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi and COP28 in Dubai in September and December respectively,

''We explored linkage between Climate Change, Food Systems and the two high-level Conferences on Climate Change in Nairobi and Dubai, and implementation of the expected outcomes,'' the DP said.

''Kenya and the UAE have had long and cordial relations for years. We look forward to strengthening the existing ties, with more focus on Climate Action.''

On the same day, Gachagua held side discussions with the @FAO's @FAODG on new and emerging frontiers of revitalising partnership and investment to fully exploit the potential of the Agriculture Sector.

''We commit to work with such partners who share in our determination to transform the Sector. We welcome FAO's plan to transform its Nairobi Office for effective and efficient delivery on its mandate in the region,'' he said.

At the margins of the UN Food Systems Summit+2 in Italy, Gachagua also held fruitful engagements with the Executive Director of World Food Programme Cindy McCain and the United Arab Emirates Minister for Climate Change and Environment Miriam Almheiri.

Their meeting was about supporting farmers to produce food for school meals programme.

Wednesday

On Wednesday and while in Rome, the DP visited the Vatican City accompanied by his wife Dorcas.

''The beautiful City, which is the religious and administrative capital of the Roman Catholic Church, has a lot that my Spouse Dorcas Rigathi and I have learnt from, moreso, on leadership,'' he said.

''It was also a moment of reflection on the universality of our belief in one Creator in spite of our diverse denominations. It was a great way of concluding the UN Food Systems Summit, whose engagements were highly successful.''

Thursday

On Thursday, Gachagua visited the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) in the United Arab Emirates.

He said the tour was to make him understand and explore possibilities of using the marketplace to benefit Kenyans.

''From the visit of the Tea Centre, Coffee Centre, Al Khaleej Sugar Company, it was clear: Value addition diversifies products to reach niche and richer markets for higher returns,'' the DP said on his twitter account.

Gachagua was in the company of Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mithika Linturi, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango and ambassador Peter Mwendwa, the Consul General, Dubai, and Northern Emirates.

That evening, Gachagua visited a Kenyan doing roaring business in Dubai to understand some of the challenges that Kenyans in the UAE face.

''I committed to take up the issues with our Consul General for Dubai and Northern Emirates Ambassador Peter Mwendwa for possible resolution,'' he said.

Friday

On Friday and ahead of his travel back home, Gachagua took time off for a long, healthy walk on the streets and a workout at Kite Beach in Dubai.

''The beautiful city, which is an oasis in a vast desert, is an affirmation of how resolute leadership can be transformative for the benefit of the Nation and its People,'' he said.

''We remain focused and determined to transform Kenya.''

The DP was accompanied by Ambassador Mwendwa.