Kenya and Burundi has signed several agreements aligned at strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
The cooperation agreements on Public service, agriculture, trade, foreign affairs, sports and culture were signed in Kisumu at the start of a two-day State Visit to Kenya by President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
The Burundi leader, who is accompanied by First Lady Angeline Ndayubaha Ndayishimiye, arrived in the country Monday and was received by President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
Addressing the press shortly after leading their respective delegation in bilateral talks, President Kenyatta said the two countries have agreed to strengthen and deepen their long-standing relations with the aim of fostering sustained socio-economic development.
“The cooperation between our two countries is built on a solid foundation of values and principles; to foster sustained socio-economic development and transformation of our two countries,” President Kenyatta said.
The Kenyan leader said that there are enormous untapped business opportunities between Bujumbura and Nairobi.
President Kenyatta announced a resolution by Kenya and Burundi to prioritize education in their post-Covid-19 recovery plans, and that the two countries would back the 4th replenishment campaign of the Global Partnership Education.
President Kenyatta and his Burundi counterpart said they will continue working together in advancing the African agenda on the global stage.
On his part, President Ndayishimiye expressed his gratitude to President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for the role the country played in stabilizing Burundi through international peace-keeping efforts, as well as through trade facilitation.
“We are enjoying the ties between our two countries both in investments and trade. I recall the role Kenya played in peace keeping in Burundi and the facilitation of trade through the port of Mombasa, and Kenyan investors already working in Burundi,” the President reiterated.