KENYA HIGH COMMISSION KIGALI BULLETIN - DECEMBER 2013
Message from the High Commissioner
Our last online edition of The Kigali Bulletin was issued six months
ago. Since then, there have been significant developments that
have a bearing on the bilateral relations of Kenya and Rwanda.
Editorial Team
Chair : HE John Mwangemi
Editor : Kennedy Mokaya
Members
1. Mildred Ming’ala
2. Lena Nyambu
3. Janet Mulamu
4. Phillip Lagat
5. Nelly Mutua
First, HE President Uhuru Kenyatta made a highly successful visit to
Kigali on 28th - 30th October 2013. The President was in Kigali to
attend two summits: The Tripartite Summit that brings together
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and the Transform Africa Summit that
brought together several top political and business leaders to
discuss broadband connectivity and its role in speeding up
development in Africa. The President also held a private meeting
with his host HE President Paul Kagame
From July through December, the Mission also facilitated and took
part in a series of meetings that concluded in agreements on
implementation of several regional infrastructure projects that are
meant to speed up the integration and development of the region.
These include a standard gauge railway and a pipeline from
Mombasa to Kigali through Kampala and also branching to South
Sudan.
The meetings also reached agreements on use of national identity
cards as travel documents within the three countries as well as
issuance of a single tourist visa. These developments are expected
to greatly increase travel within and into the region.
Finally, the Mission facilitated and coordinated Kenya’s participation
at the 16th Kigali International Trade Fair that took place on 24th July
- 7th August 2013 as well as the East African Tea convention and
exhibition held on 27th and 28th August 2013.
It is my conviction that all these initiatives will greatly boost the
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Kenya’s marine attractions
welfare of the citizens of the three countries and beyond.
John Mwangemi
HIGH COMMISSIONER
Kenya’s Coral Gardens
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KENYA HIGH COMMISSION KIGALI BULLETIN - DECEMBER 2013
HE President Uhuru Kenyatta in Visit to Rwanda
His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta led a high level delegation in a visit to Rwanda on
28th - 30th October 2013. The purpose of the visit was to attend the Transform Africa and the
Tripartite Summits that were held in Kigali.
The Tripartite Summit brings together Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The Transform Africa
Summit on the other hand brought together several top business and political leaders from
across the continent to discuss broad band connectivity in Africa and how it could
accelerate development in the continent. The Transform Africa Summit was co-hosted in
Kigali by the International Telecommunications Union and HE President Paul Kagame.
In remarks he delivered during the Transform Africa summit, HE President Uhuru Kenyatta
said that Kenya recognizes the role of ICT in unlocking Kenya’s development potential,
particularly among the youth. He disclosed that the country is implementing several ICT
projects that will help in fighting corruption, enhancing security, and facilitating faster
integration and development in Africa. He singled out the One Lap Top Per child project
which the country is implementing, expressing is hope that Kenya will benefit from the
experience of Rwanda in implementing the One Lap Top Per Child Programme.
The President also addressed the Kenyan community living in Rwanda. The Head of State
informed that he was working closely with the Presidents of Rwanda and Uganda to ensure
that the integration process was speedily implemented to make it easier for businesses. He
took the opportunity to clarify that the three countries were concentrating on people
rather than colonial borders. They were not isolating any member willing to join.
The President was accompanied by the Cabinet Secretaries ICT, Dr. Fred Matiangi, Energy
and Petroleum Mr. Davis Chirchir, the National Treasury Mr. Henry Rotich and the Principal
Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr. (Eng.) Karanja
Kibicho.
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Above left: HE President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses Kenyans living in Rwanda and right, at the Transform Africa Summit. Below: The
President in a tete a tete with his host HE President Paul Kagame.
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Kenya Participates in the 16th Rwanda International Trade Fair “Expo”
The 16th Kigali International Trade Fair took place at the Gikondo Grounds, Kigali on 24th
July - 7th August 2013. Over 120 foreign companies from 20 countries from Africa, Europe,
Asia and the Middle East took part in the exhibition whose theme was linking businesses to
markets. The exhibition was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Rwanda Rt. Hon Pierre
Damieni Habumuriemyi .
Mr. Albanus Mumo, of the Kenya Export Promotion Council who was the stand director of
the Kenya pavilion addressed the exhibitors on behalf of foreign exhibitors. Mr. Mumo
praised Rwanda for organizing the event annually thus helping in expanding markets,
securing business deals, networking, opening up distribution outlets as well as strengthening
existing distributorship networks from as far flung as Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda and
Zimbabwe.
He also expressed confidence that the Proposed Mombasa to Kigali railway and the
dedicated Kenya airways cargo freighter to Kigali International airport as well as the Kenya
Ports Authority Liaison office would greatly benefit the business community.
Kenya’s participation in the event was coordinated by the Kenya High Commission, the
Export Promotion Council of Kenya, the Ministry of East African Affairs Commerce, and
Tourism and the Private sector.
Among the Kenyan firms that participated in the exhibition were Equity Bank (Rwanda),
KCB Rwanda, Mount Kenya University, UAP insurance company, KPA, and Kenya Airways.
Kenya was declared the best country exhibitor while Tigo from Rwanda emerged the
overall best exhibitor. UAP insurance company emerged the best company in the services
sector.
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The CEO of UAP Rwanda, Pauline Wanjohi (left) receives a trophy at the end of the exhibition
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Kenya Shines at the Second Tea Convention and Exhibition in Kigali
The second tea convention and exhibition organized by the East African Tea Traders
Association (EATTA) took place at the Kigali Serena Hotel on 29th and 30th August 2013.
Participants to this convention included experts, input suppliers, researchers, and scholars
in the tea sector.
During the exhibition Sorwathe tea factory of Rwanda emerged the best producer of
Green tea while Kitabi tea factory of Rwanda was declared as the best producer of black
CTC teas among those that participated. Kangaita tea factory of Kenya was declared the
best exhibitor in the Orthodox tea and special teas category
The exhibition was officially opened by HE President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who
challenged the East African tea stakeholders to improve their value addition of tea and
ensure improvement in tea consumption by the region in order to promote tea business.
He decried the fact that Rwanda consumes only 2 % of the tea that it produces while
Kenya consumes only 5%. East Africa is the third largest tea producer after China and India
yet it is among the smallest consumers compared to other tea producing regions in the
world.
Regional Integration Eases Movement of People Across Borders
The number of people travelling within the region has significantly increased following the
deepening of regional integration in the EAC. Most of the travelers are tourists and
businessmen. EAC countries have accordingly moved to place themselves in order to tap
into this increasingly important segment of the tourism industry in the region. For instance in
2012 alone, Rwanda received 915,000 visitors from the region, mostly from Congo DRC and
Kenya.
Most Kenyans who visited Rwanda came for conferences and bench marking in areas
such as peace building and reconciliation, environmental conservation, city cleaning and
devolution / governance and trade opportunities. The One Lap Top Per Child Program that
has been implemented in Rwanda is also a major attraction for Kenyans. The largest
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numbers of tourists from Kenya are from School Heads and County Governments.
Tourism has emerged as Rwanda‘s largest foreign exchange earner, fetching $281.8 million
in 2012. The country hopes to make $440 million in 2014. Most of these earnings are
expected to come from the region.
Above left: Kiamwenja Teachers College Board of Governors and above right a visiting delegation 10/9/2013. Below left Kiambu
investment cooperative and below right, principals and School Heads from Limuru.
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Above left: Makueni County representatives and above right: Baringo County Assembly members in a group photo with the High
Commissioner. Below Rt. The Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University Prof. Mabel Imbuga and other officials from the University
when they visited Kigali in September 2013. The University has established a campus in the city. Below Left. The Secretary, Foreign Service
Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi Amb. David Mutemi, when he paid a courtesy call at the High Commission during his
visit to Kigali in October 2013
Kenya Moves to Address Bottlenecks that Have Been Slowing Regional Trade.
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Kenya is moving aggressively to improve the business environment in the region. The
country has taken several bold measures including major improvements at the port of
Mombasa as well as improvements in service delivery at the port that will greatly improve
efficiency. For example, whereas it previously took up to 20 days for a container cargo to
get from Mombasa to Nairobi (including the days it took to clear the cargo and the road
trip to Nairobi), it now takes five days for a container to reach the Kenya Uganda border.
This period is projected to reduce to three days soon.
The country has also agreed to work with Uganda and Rwanda to implement several
infrastructure projects that will greatly facilitate movement of people, goods and services
in the region. Under what has been dubbed the “Tripartite Initiative” the Kenya is already
taking measures to develop an oil pipeline that will run from Mombasa to Kigali through
Eldoret and Kampala. The project is planned to be completed by August 2017. Phase two
of the project is to run from Uganda to Lamu but branching to south Sudan- LokicharHoima.
The country is also developing a standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Kigali through
Eldoret and Kampala. This is to be completed in March 2018. The Mombasa Nairobi
segment has already been launched and the contractors have already mobilized.
Currently about 95% of the cargo leaving the port of Mombasa is carried by road.
Considering that road transport costs and indirect costs of port delays account for 35%
and 42 % of the cost of importation of transit cargo through Kenya, introduction of a
standard gauge railway should considerably bring down the overall costs.
Other related projects include regional power generation and distribution to be
spearheaded by Kenya, strengthening single customs territory and political federation,
issuance of single tourist visa for the three countries and use of identity card as a travel
document within the three countries that started this year.
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Kenya Ports Authority (KPA ) Opens Liaison Office in Kigali
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) recently launched a Liaison office in Kigali during an event
held at the Kigali Serena Hotel. The launch held on July 19th 2013 was attended by the
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure Eng. Michael Kamau, and
his Rwandese counterpart Prof. Silas Lwakabamba. Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda
H.E. John Mwangemi, KPA Chairman, Mr. Shukri Barmadi, KPA Managing Director Mr.
Gichiri Ndua, and Kenya’s Investment Secretary Mrs. Esther Koimett were among the Senior
officials who attended the event. Members of the Business community in Rwanda also
attended the function.
The guest of honour at the event was the Minister for infrastructure of the Republic of
Rwanda Prof. Silas Lwakabamba. The Minister and representatives of the business
community welcomed the opening of the KPA Liaison office in Kigali and other initiatives
by the Government of Kenya to drastically minimize the time taken to clear goods from the
port to the border. They also praised the elimination of weighbridges and roadblocks along
On their part, Eng. Michael Kamau and H.E. the High Commissioner outlined the measures
that the Government of the Republic of Kenya was taking to improve efficiency of
operations at the Port of Mombasa and transportation of goods along the Northern
Corridor.
The KPA Kigali Liaison office is manned by a resident marketing executive - Ms. Cynthia
Kamau - and is located at the 5th Floor of the Grand Pension Plaza within the Central
Buisness District of Kigali.
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The cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure en. Michael Kamau and other officials from KPA when they visited Kigali to open the
KPA liaison office
More Kenyan Parliamentary Delegations Visit Kigali
The Speaker of the Kenyan Senate Hon. Ekwee Ethuro and Speaker of the National
Assembly Hon. Justine Muturi visited Kigali in the latter half of June and early July 2013
respectively. The main aim of the visit was to benchmark from Rwanda’s experience in the
conduct of parliamentary business.
During the visit, which took place on 20th - 24th June 2013 Hon. Ekwe Ethuro was
accompanied by the Leader of Majority in the Senate Hon. Kindiki Kithure, Hon. Lenny
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Kivuti, and Hon. Agnes Zani. He was hosted by Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo,
President of the Senate, of the Republic of Rwanda. Hon Ethuro’s delegation attended a
session of the Rwandan parliament and paid a courtesy call on H.E. the President of the
Republic of Rwanda. They also attended the annual gorilla naming ceremony ‘Kwita Izina’
in Musanze district, Rwanda where they were accorded the highly regarded honour of
naming a baby Gorilla.
The Speaker of the National Assembly on the other hand attended the EAC 4th
Governance Conference which was held in Kigali, Rwanda on 7th - 10th of July 2013. He
was accompanied by Hon. Amos Wako and Justice Francis Gikonyo, amongst others.
“Kenya at Fifty” Celebrations in Kigali Rwanda, December 2013
Two key ceremonies were held in Rwanda to commemorate Kenya’s Golden Jubilee of
Independence. The first was a dinner hosted by the Mission and graced by guests from the
Government of Rwanda, members of the diplomatic community and other dignitaries on
the 10th of December 2013 at Kigali Serena Hotel.
The Guest of Honour during the occasion was Hon. Vincent Biruta Rwanda’s Minister for
Education. In remarks he made during the occasion, HE the Mr. John Mwangemi, the High
Commissioner of the republic of Kenya in Rwanda note that Kenya has achieved great
progress in the last fifty years, in spite of the many challenges that it has faced.
A key highlight for the evening was an artistic photographic exhibition showcasing Kenya’s
historical passage and key heroes and heroines representing various facets of Kenya’s
history and society through the decades.
The Mission in collaboration with the Association of Kenyans (AKR) in Rwanda also
facilitated an end of year party on the 14th of December 2014 which was held at the Royal
Carwash gardens. The event was attended by Kenyans from all walks of life, a good
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number of who proudly donned Kenya@50 T shirts sponsored by AKR Management and
other sponsors. The Guest of Honour during the occasion was the High commissioner.
During the party officials from the Department responsible for Immigration in Rwanda
sensitized the Kenyan community on Rwandan immigration laws and requirements as well
as the coming into operation of the use of the identity card as a travel document.
The
High Commissioner (left) and the Guest of Honour Minister for Education of the Republic of Rwanda Mr. Vincent Biruta make their
remarks. Below left: The High Commissioner at the end of year party and below rt. at Mashujaa Day
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A
section of the Kenyans who attended the end of year party
Kenya’s Landmarks: Kenyatta International Conference Centre
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) at the heart of Nairobi is one of the premier
conference facilities in the East and Central African region. Sandwiched between the Parliament,
City Hall, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Jogoo
House, the KICC as it is popularly known is one of the oldest landmarks in the city of Nairobi with
state of the art facilities for International conferences. These include conference facilities and
rooms, eateries including the revolving hotel at the top of the building and several shops. The
facility is itself a touristic attraction with a breathtaking view and a revolving hotel at the
top.
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The KICC and some of its facilities and attractions including being near Nairobi National Park
Staff Changes
In November 2013, the Mission bid farewell to one of its longest serving officers Mr. Edwin
Mutava who left the Mission after a successful tour of duty in Kigali. Mr. Mutava joined the
Mission in 2008 and was in charge of consular functions. His successor is Ms. Lena Mghoi.
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Above left: Mr. Edwin Mutava and above right: Ms. Lena Mghoi
Feedback
Please tell us what you think about our bulletin. You can reach us on the following address:
Kenya High Commission, Kigali.
Po Box 6159, Kigali.
Email: [email protected]
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