Canadian Immigration Minister Pays a Courtesy on President Uhuru, Pledges to Strengthen Ties with Kenya

President Kenyatta has on Wednesday held discussions with Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Ahmed Hussen, who paid him a courtesy call at his Harambee House office in Nairobi.

During the talks, Hussen said Canada is keen to strengthen trade ties with Kenya, especially in the mining, oil and gas sector. The Minister further pledged a $ 6 million grant to assists Kenyans affected by drought.

He also encouraged more skilled Kenyans to seek jobs and training in Canada, pledging that his country will hasten the process of issuing of Visas to Kenyans travelling to Canada.

He said Canada was ready to absorb more Kenyan students, lamenting that numbers have remained low even when Canadian institutions charge lower fees than the UK and US.

The meeting, which was attended by UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi also discussed the refugee situation in the country. President Uhuru urged the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to fund projects that will improve lives of local residents as it carries out the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees.

“As we carry out the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees, we must not ignore the interests of the local communities,” President Kenyatta said.