Uhuru set for Russia, China visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to visit Russia and China starting Thursday as part of the government’s initiative to grow new markets that focus on The East.

During his Russian tour, President Kenyatta will hold discussions with business leaders which will be dominated by Kenya’s emerging role as a new frontier for oil and gas and mineral wealth, according to statement by State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu

The discussions will also feature Kenya’s drive to open new markets for its traditional exports such as coffee, tea and fresh produce as well as focus on new investment areas, with growth in innovation and technology offering phenomenal opportunities.

President Kenyatta ‘s official visit to China which runs from August 19 to 23rd, will be dominated by discussions on business and investment, with a business delegation of more than 60 people join the President on this leg of his tour.

While in China, President Kenyatta will sign deals on a power transmission project for Nairobi as well as other agreements on economic and technical cooperation.

The President is also expected review a number of projects under discussion between the governments of Kenya and China – key among them the $2.5 billion construction of a Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Malaba and the $1.755 billion High Grand Multi-Purpose Dam project, which is key to regional development plans.

“The visits to Russia and China are important to Kenya in the context of the policy to look “East”, by which President Kenyatta intends to focus on opening new markets or deepening existing relations in the traditional Indian Ocean Rim, as well as other countries such as Australia and Singapore, and the emerging constituency of powers from developing countries known as BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa,” the statement adds.