When I came to Kenya for the first time in 1993 as a student, I wouldn’t have thought that, 20 years later, I would be back as Ambassador of Germany to Kenya. Now my tour of duty is coming to an end. My friendship and deep attachment to this wonderful country remain.
Kenya has come a long way since Independence. Economically, it is the powerhouse of the region and the point of entry for many global companies to enter the East African market. Kenyan experts make outstanding contributions to human development in many fields. Kenyan authors are read all over the world. Politically, Kenya is playing a leading role on many global issues such as climate change or wildlife protection. It hosts the UN headquarters in Africa. It stands upright in our global fight against the evil of terrorism and to counter the threat of violent extremism.
Kenya is blessed with a rich cultural heritage, the diversity of its cultures and languages, the power, resilience and optimism of its people. There is no other country in the region with such an open and outspoken society. Start discussing politics with the taxi driver at the airport, and you see what I mean. The plurality of opinion, the loud voice of media and civil society, the wide use of social media is something I have enjoyed very much. These are assets of freedom and creativity that move a country forward. Kenyans really have many reasons to be proud of their amazing country.
When Kenyans voted for their new constitution in 2010, people in Germany were very fascinated by this courageous step towards devolution. Being a highly decentralised country ourselves, we have had our own experiences with the opportunities and challenges of devolving power, resources and functions. From our own experience, it takes daily efforts to strike the right balance between the different tiers of government, to forge compromises and create space for constructive cooperation. Yet one thing we have learnt is that devolution, or decentralisation, are a unique opportunity to take government closer to the people that should not be missed.
Of course, German-Kenyan friendship and cooperation is very wide and dates back a long time. I have always liked being reminded of my official number plate, 1 CD, for being the first country to have recognised Kenya after Independence. Our relationship has grown and matured over the years. We are equal partners and friends who support each other, and who tell each other the truth.
I am particularly pleased that our business, trade and investment relations have picked up very much lately. When I came, membership in the German Business Association in Kenya stood at 90. Now it has grown to 130. Big German companies like Bosch or Merck have opened offices in Nairobi, others like Allianz or Daimler are planning to do so. BASF last year opened a production facility in Nairobi. Lufthansa will take up direct Frankfurt-Nairobi flights
in October. And the list goes on. It is quite obvious that the intensified economic relationship is to the benefit of both our countries. Thus, for example, German companies, assisted by our government, are ready to provide further support to technical and vocational training in Kenya, to create employment opportunities particularly for young people.
Or take our development cooperation. Germany and Kenya cooperate closely in crucially important sectors like agriculture, water and sanitation, and health. We also cooperate on important renewable energy projects, like geothermal energy from the Rift Valley or wind energy from Lake Turkana, or solar mini-grids to provide solutions in far-off regions, to support Kenya to meet its ambitious energy goals. We cooperate to rehabilitate schools and bring clean water to poor urban areas, to give prospects to kids growing up there. We work together on broad-based health insurance schemes on a national level.
In the cultural field, we work together to create mutual understanding and trust across cultural, linguistic and religious divides. Two thousand Kenyans study German every year at our Goethe Institute in Nairobi. Every year, the German Cultural Festival brings together 1,000 students from 100 secondary schools from all over Kenya, to take part in a German language drama competition. Kiswahili, the beautiful national language of Kenya, is being taught at seven German universities. DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, has more than 10,000 alumni in Kenya and the region. At the German School in Nairobi, 300 Kenyan, German and international students learn together from kindergarten to A-level. Recently, we had our first German Week, a series of joint cultural events, in Nairobi.
Of course, security is an issue of great concern to all of us. Germany has a lot of respect, support and solidarity for the immense burden Kenya shoulders as a frontline state against international terrorism and violent extremism. Beside our police and military cooperation, Germany, via DAAD, awarded 300 scholarships to students who survived the Garissa attack, to continue their studies. Our joint message is: together, we will defeat the evil doings of terrorists and their cruel masterminds.
Therefore, the story of Kenya and Germany is one of friendship and cooperation. I had the privilege to live and work in Kenya to strengthen Kenyan-German relations. Kenya is a proud and dynamic country. Kenyans are full of energy and potential. I will miss Kenya and our partners and friends in Kenya. Leaving now, I say: Kwaheri ya kuonana! Tukutane tena.
