EU ambassador to engage Kenyans on Twitter Thursday lunchtime
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Lodewijk Briet. The EU has accused the State of failing to share security information, leading to a delay in the lifting of travel advisories. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The conversation, which starts at 12.30pm Kenya time, will use the hashtags #talk2Nation and #AskEU.
- The ambassador's official Twitter handle is @EUinKenya
- EU is now seeking to talk to people through the use of social media alongside other forms of modern communication.
- The ambassador said Kenya has become a vital hub in Africa ion terms of trade, politics and investment among others.
The European Union's ambassador to Kenya, Lodewijk Briet, will on Thursday afternoon engage Kenyans in a Twitter conversation on various themes, including security and foreign investment.
The exchange, which starts at 12.30pm Kenyan time, will use the hashtags #talk2Nation and #AskEU
Mr Briet said the move was informed by the EU’s recognition that “foreign affairs is becoming more complex and involving more and more people, businesses and organisations.”
As such, the EU is now seeking to talk to people through the use of social media alongside other forms of modern communication.
Mr Briet further said that at least nine EU embassies based in Nairobi are already on social media.
“All of this helps international trade, relations and investment to flourish to the benefit of Kenya,” he adds.
VITAL HUB IN AFRICA
The ambassador said Kenya has become a vital hub in Africa in terms of trade, politics and investment, among others.
"Kenya, now more than ever before, is increasingly important to what happens in Africa,” he asserted.
In view of this, the EU set up the Twitter handle @EUinKenya, which Mr Briet said is intended to help reach out to more Kenyans and explain to them what Europe stands for and what it is doing in Kenya.
It is also intended to be “part of Kenya's busy online conversation”.
"When I take questions on Twitter on Thursday (at) lunchtime I hope I can engage with people around Kenya on issues and concerns that we are engaged with and that matter to them,” Mr Briet said.
There are three themes for this online engagement: security in a modernising Kenya and how international partners can help; growth in investment, trade and Kenya's economy and what is next for development; and the ICC and what is next for Kenya's political development.
