Raila hosts Japan Ambassador Matsuura, calls for strong bilateral relation

Odinga praised the decades-long bilateral relationship between Kenya and Japan.

by RINAH JOYCE APOFIA

News17 July 2025 - 08:59

In Summary

The meeting aimed at strengthening diplomatic and development cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement released after the meeting, Raila praised the decades-long bilateral relationship between Kenya and Japan.

*Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Ambassador of Japan to Kenya Hiroshi Matsuura in Nairobi on July 17, 2025. / HANDOUT*

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday hosted the Ambassador of Japan to Kenya Hiroshi Matsuura, who paid him a courtesy call.

The meeting aimed at strengthening diplomatic and development cooperation between the two countries.

In a statement released after the meeting, Raila praised the decades-long bilateral relationship between Kenya and Japan.

''Kenya and Japan have enjoyed longstanding and cordial relations spanning decades. Japan has been a key partner in our development journey, particularly through impactful support in both social and infrastructure sectors," Raila said.

Odinga also thanked Matsuura for taking time to engage in discussions on the future cooperation between Nairobi and Tokyo.

"I am grateful to Ambassador Matsuura for the meaningful discussions we held. We remain committed to continued collaboration and the strengthening of ties between our two nations," he added.

Japan is among Kenya’s top development partners, supporting projects in energy, transport, water, and urban development.

Raila has in recent been holding meetings with key envoys to discuss, among other issues, diplomatic cooperation between Kenya and her key partners.

In April, the Norwegian Ambassador to South Sudan Roar Haugsdal paid a courtesy call to Raila to hold discussions on developing situations in the East African country of South Sudan.

The envoy was accompanied by Torbjern Svanevik, First Secretary Political & Economic Affairs at the Norwegian Embassy in Juba.

On another note, the ODM leader also met with the South Sudan Civil Society and Community Leaders where they held talks on how to ease ongoing tensions following the arrest of the First South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny.

In March, Raila held a meeting with the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Neil Wigan.

According to Raila, the two discussed, among other issues, the evolving international system and the state of the country.

He said that they also touched on the relations between Kenya and the UK.