Kenya and Burundi sign seven agreements to strengthen ties

Kenya and Burundi signed several agreements on Monday that are aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two East African nations.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Burundian counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye signed the agreements at the Kisumu State Lodge.

Evariste Ndayishimiye arrived in the country on Monday morning for his two-day official visit.

The cooperation agreements which were signed touched on agriculture, public service, foreign affairs, trade, sports, and culture.

Addressing the press shortly after leading their respective delegation in bilateral talks, Uhuru said the two countries have agreed to strengthen and deepen their long-standing fraternal relations with the aim of fostering sustained socio-economic development.

“The cooperation between our two countries is built on a solid foundation of shared values and principles; to foster sustained socio-economic development and transformation of our two countries, a vibrant and united East African Community, and an integrated and prosperous Africa,” Uhuru said.

He added that there are enormous untapped business opportunities between Bujumbura and Nairobi, and directed relevant ministries to review and address bottlenecks inhibiting the growth of trade and investment between the two East African countries.

Uhuru also announced a resolution by Kenya and Burundi to prioritise education in their post-Covid-19 recovery plans, and that the two countries would back the 4th replenishment campaign of the Global Partnership Education (GPE), which aims to raise at least USD5 billion for investment in education.

The two leaders said that they will continue working together in advancing the African agenda on the global stage, and reiterated their countries commitment to the progress of the East African Community (EAC).

“On regional cooperation, we exchanged views on various development matters in the East African Community (EAC); and reaffirmed our commitment to continue working together in championing the EAC integration agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063. On international cooperation, we reiterated our commitment to continue working closely at the level of the United Nations (UN), with a view to advancing the Common African Agenda for Integration and Sustainable Development,” Uhuru said.

As part of efforts to strengthen Kenya-Burundi bilateral ties, two leaders agreed to review the 2018 Joint Permanent Commission for a Cooperation agreement with a view of ensuring expeditious implementation of agreed-upon agreements.

Ndayishimiye expressed his gratitude to Uhuru and the people of Kenya for the role the country played in stabilising 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 peacekeeping in Burundi and the facilitation of trade through the port of Mombasa, and Kenyan investors already working in Burundi,” the Burundi leader said.

The Burundi leader who is accompanied by First Lady Angeline Ndayubaha Ndayishimiye was received by his host Uhuru and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.