Kenyatta, Netanyahu hold bilateral talks

President Uhuru Kenyatta met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as he started his three-day tour of the country to cement Kenya’s long security and trade relations with the Israel.

At the Prime Minister’s Office in the city of Jerusalem, President Kenyatta spoke of the historic ties between the two states, and his desire to expand relations spanning a range of areas — from agriculture and irrigation to security and Information Technology, in which Israel is traditionally strong.

President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Netanyahu signed agreements on irrigation and agriculture, furthering an agenda that both Nairobi and Tel Aviv have sought to deepen over the last several years.

President Kenyatta hailed Israel as “a friend of Kenya”.

Kenyatta arrived in Israel on Monday accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohammed, Major Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery, Eugene Wamalwa, and Dr. Cleopa Mailu.

President Kenyatta separately met with Israeli President Mr Reuven Rivlin, where the two leaders spoke on the need for closer ties between the two countries.

President Rivlin emphasized that Israel stands with Kenya in the face of the threats posed by terrorists.