Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma Defends President Uhuru's Frequent Foreign Trips
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary ambassador Monica Juma has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta's frequent foreign visits.
Juma, while speaking to the press in Nairobi, said the president's overseas trips were beneficial since they have helped build Kenya's image in the global stage as well as sell Kenya as an investment hub.
The Cabinet Secretary further disclosed that President Kenyatta has made a total of 49 foreign trips since he assumed office in 2013. She said the trips have consolidated the country's relevance internationally.
"Looking back to the last six years, I can confidently confirm that the high-level diplomacy paradigm has yielded manifold outcomes in three broad spheres; Kenya has established solid and productive relationships across the world - in Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe, Asia and the other parts of the world," Juma said.
She added: "Nairobi has become one of the most visited capitals for foreign heads of state and heads of government and preferred destination for international meetings and conferences, and most fundamentally, interest and investment in our country has grown a thousand fold – translating into economic growth."
She also noted that Kenyatta has made six high-level foreign trips this year aimed at building partnerships in trade, regional peace and security.
This year, the President has visited Cuba, United States, United Kingdom and China where he cut different deals ranging from trade, security and partnerships in several other areas.
"Besides the specifics outlined above, the engagements offered the opportunities for closer bilateral collaboration with the countries involved in line with the aspirations of the Kenya’s Foreign Policy as Kenya strives to entrench her leadership as an economic power within the region as well as achieve a desirable competitiveness globally," CS Juma said.
Comments
Wewe Monica,sio wote…
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Wewe Monica,sio wote bongolala/mafaala/wanjinga.Your president only wastes our money abroad with delegations of up to 100 people each earning shs 100000 daily for nothing.Whay can you say of a president going to US to meet a convicted conman who have served jail term?Can you give us details where he attained anything important to Kenyans other than taking private bussinesmen for private deals at our expense and signing expensive loans for themselves to loot?
Mwambie Kibeti sio watu wote…
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Mwambie Kibeti sio watu wote bongolala/wanjinga.Can waKagwanja tell Kenyans one thing her president has achieved in those trips other than signing expensive loans not needed by Kenyans?Only the elite thugs benefit from these loans as they loot to the last penny after paying salaries.Can she tell us why Uhuru ones went to US to meet a convicted conman/thief after his release from jail?Others who benefit are private business people who sign their deals but the trips and allowances($ 1000 each) are paid by Kenyans.
The only trip Uhuru should…
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The only trip Uhuru should be taking is to the common mwananchi who continues to struggle to make ends meet. With an additional fuel tax coming up thanks to the fat cats in parliament, the worst is yet to come.By the way who taxes the poor person to the hilt then pushes for fuel tax on them besides the Venezuelan government? Total lack of imagination and gross incompetence. And we know what is happening in Venezuela. Uhurus trips have been about borrowing and more borrowing and now that we have been sold to the Chinese for cheap we await to see who the secondary masters will be.The west, again? Kenya is drowning in debt and economic slowdown has already began. Uhuru please come out clean and say your government is broke. Shun the beggar attitude, stay home and curb corruption. At least you will be remembered for that.
The only trip Uhuru should…
Permalink
The only trip Uhuru should be taking is to the common mwananchi who continues to struggle to make ends meet. With an additional fuel tax coming up thanks to the fat cats in parliament, the worst is yet to come.By the way who taxes the poor person to the hilt then pushes for fuel tax on them besides the Venezuelan government? Total lack of imagination and gross incompetence. And we know what is happening in Venezuela. Uhurus trips have been about borrowing and more borrowing and now that we have been sold to the Chinese for cheap we await to see who the secondary masters will be.The west, again? Kenya is drowning in debt and economic slowdown has already began. Uhuru please come out clean and say your government is broke. Shun the beggar attitude, stay home and curb corruption. At least you will be remembered for that.
There's not much that Uhuru…
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There's not much that Uhuru does on these trips that cannot be done by those idlers sitting in foreign countries as ambassadors. These trips are just a gravy train for state House staff to line their pockets with per diem payments and indulge in binge shopping sprees. Average per diem pay is around US$600 with free board and free local transportation. These folks spend average of 24 days each month on these trips accompanied by their office secretaries, cooks and even messengers. At that pay level, do the math and see what it costs Wanjiku. I personally know a secretary whose basic salary is Ks 35000 but she takes home up to Ks 400,000/- monthly. Pure gravy.
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