- Mudavadi affirmed Kenya's commitment to strengthen ties and expand opportunities for Kenyans in UAE.
- “These relations have continued to deepen with the collective desire to improve and cooperate on issues of mutual interest," he said.
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Kenya has commended the United Arab Emirates government for providing more than 30,000 Kenyans with employment opportunities.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi has expressed deep appreciation to the Middle East country and called for stronger Kenya-UAE ties.
The Prime CS, who also doubles up as the Foreign and Diaspora CS, affirmed Kenya's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and expanding opportunities for Kenyans in skilled professions in the UAE.
“I thank the government of UAE most sincerely for the many employment opportunities offered to Kenyans. I’m happy that already there are over 30,000 Kenyans living and working in this beautiful and hospitable country, most of them in the domestic workers category,” Mudavadi said.
He called on Kenya and the UAE to expedite the implementation of the 2018 labour cooperation agreement and emphasised the need to review relevant provisions of the agreement where necessary.
Mudavadi was speaking during the 4th Session of the Kenya-UAE Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC).
He described the JCC talks as “very fruitful” and said they covered a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including political, social and economic matters.
He said the 4th JCC session provided a platform to set strategic priorities in areas such as trade and investment, defence, security, agriculture, blue economy, education, energy, transport, labour, peace and security, healthcare, environment, climate change and sports.
The Prime CS highlighted the strong bilateral relations Kenya and the UAE have maintained since establishing diplomatic ties in 1982 and praised the UAE’s supportive role in Kenya’s development through direct budgetary support.
The ties were further solidified following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering Joint Cooperation on Governance and Government Experience.
“These relations have continued to deepen with the collective desire to improve and cooperate on issues of mutual interest and believe in shared prosperity for the socio-economic development of our peoples,” Mudavadi said.
He appreciated that the UAE government has assumed a vitally supportive role in Kenya’s global developmental partnership and networks.
“I’m confident that this kind of engagement and collaboration, as we are witnessing today, will help inject the necessary impetus to unlock the vast opportunities between our countries,” he said.
Mudavadi revealed that Kenya and UAE are at an advanced stage of finalising the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
This, he said, is expected to be signed during the forthcoming State Visit to Kenya by the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The CEPA Agreement will provide the necessary foundation for our two countries to continue expanding and deepening our trade and investment ties and it is my sincere hope that our people will seize the many opportunities that will be made possible through CEPA,” Mudavadi said.
He added that the State Visit underscores the strength of the growing bond between the two countries.
More effort, he said, is required to drive the relations to the highest possible level to exploit the full potential for the mutual benefit of the people of Kenya and UAE.