VP leaves for Goodluck's inauguration
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is received by Nigerian minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Ajumogobia when he arrived at Namdi Azikiwe International Airport-Abuja on Friday. The VP is in Nigeria to represent President Kibaki at the inauguration ceremony of President Jonathan Goodluck, who will be sworn in May 28, 2011. VPPS
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is leading Kenya’s delegation to the inauguration of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday.
Mr Musyoka and assistant ministers Gideon Ndambuki (Agriculture), Bifwoli Wakoli (Lands), Orwa Ojodeh, co-government chief whip Johnstone Muthama and Kandara MP Maina Kamau left for Nigeria on Friday for the four-day visit.
Through his press secretary Kaplich Barsito, Mr Musyoka hailed Mr Jonathan’s election saying it helped strengthen democracy in the continent and Africa’s most populous country.
The election was further a boost to religious and cultural tolerance in the West African country.
“Kenya’s relation with Nigeria has grown deeply in recent times. Apart from good economic ties Kenya Airways has also since launched flights to Lagos and plans to start direct ones to Abuja. Business people from Nigeria also transit through Nairobi,” Mr Musyoka said.
The VP’s visit to Nigeria is the second in three months after his earlier one to seek support for Kenya’s effort for the deferral of Kenya’s post-election violence cases by the International Criminal Court.
The visit comes less than a week after an uproar in Parliament over Mr Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s frequent visits abroad at expense of tax-payers.
Mr Jonathan took over Nigeria’s presidency in 2010 following President Umaru Yar’dua’s death.
Upon taking office, he cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reform as the main focus of his administration.
