German air giants Lufthansa to fly to Nairobi and Mombasa

Germany’s biggest carrier Lufthansa Airlines will resume flights to Nairobi from October, outgoing Germany Ambassador to Kenya Andreas Peschke has said.

Speaking when he bid farewell to President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday morning, the Germany Ambassador also said another German carrier, Condor Airlines, will introduce weekly flights from Munich to Mombasa.

The announcement by the outgoing ambassador boosts ongoing efforts to revive the Kenyan tourism sector and trade between the two countries.

Lufthansa Airlines will fly Airbus A 340-300 to Nairobi four times a week from October 27^th, and five times a week from December 11.

The launch of the flights by Lufthansa Airlines will enhance Nairobi’s status as a regional hub.

The Ambassador also said his Government has upgraded its Kenyan mission and now it is one of the biggest in Africa equivalent to that in South Africa.

President Kenyatta thanked Mr. Peschke for growing business, education and cultural cooperation between the two states.

“You have been very supportive to our development agenda and have not restrained your citizens from visiting us,” said the President.

The President said many Kenyans depend on tourism and the resumption of the German airlines will contribute greatly to the revival of the sector.

Tackling youth radicalization

President Kenyatta said Kenya would like to work with other governments in the war against terror, pointing out that terrorism is a global threat.

President Kenyatta noted that the root cause of terror is indoctrination that “is luring our young people into dangerous ideology.”

He said there is need for governments to co-operate to see how they can tackle the challenge of youth radicalization.

“Kenya welcomes German investors. Please encourage more German ventures into Kenya. By investing in this nation, they will access opportunities in Eastern and Central Africa,’ the President said.

Ambassador Peschke said Germany supports Kenya in its war against terror and that his country would continue to worker with Kenya towards eliminating international terrorism.

The swahili speaking envoy, said business and investment cooperation is growing between the two nations and that 130 Germany businessmen are involved in various ventures in the country.

“The German Government invested 300 million Euros in 2014/2015 in in support of various community based projects aimed at improving the lives of wananchi in Kenya,” he said.

President Kenyatta also bid farewell to the Danish Ambassador to Kenya Geert Aagaard Anderson.

PSCU contributed to this report