Kenya to reopen embassy in Somalia

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday announced that Kenya will fast-track the re-opening of its embassy in Somalia.

The President noted that the move will strengthen the link between the two governments.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed is coordinating the establishment of the embassy, he said.

Speaking when he met the Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiwelli Sheikh Ahmed at State House, Nairobi, Mr Kenyatta further noted Somalia needs a strong financial management system to be able to attract donors.

He said Kenya will assist Somalia rebuild and strengthen its financial institutions to international standards.

A functional financial management system has been one of the major impediments to international donor support for the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

He revealed that last week, he had discussed Somalia issues with European Union (EU) leaders who were in Nairobi for a meeting. But the EU ministers pointed out that the lack of financial management structures was an obstacle to aiding the country.

“Beginning today, our National Treasury will start supporting your government in setting up financial systems and this will help you meet all control standards,” Mr Kenyatta said.

Kenya, he added, will provide financial expertise and training to help the Federal Government of Somalia to establish institutions that meet international standards.

President Kenyatta and Mr Ahmed also agreed to have the intelligence services of the two countries work closely to effectively monitor and eliminate the threat posed by the Al-Shabaab terror network.

The President said the intelligence sharing system will help in identifying those who mastermind and perpetrate terror activities.

“We need the intelligence to eliminate the enemies of humanity, who have continued to cause suffering in our two countries and whose agenda is to make a whole community look guilty,” he said.

The President assured Mr Ahmed that recent security operations in various parts of the country targeting illegal foreigners were never meant to profile the Somalis.

Mr Ahmed said Somalia was now getting back to its feet and they are working on the federal blocks to reduce the strength of the Al-Shabaab. KDF went into Somalia in 2011 and has been able to dislodge the terror group from Southern Somalia and the key port of Kismayu.

The Somali Prime Minister, however, said the biggest challenge to his government was the threat posed by terrorist cells still operating in the country.
The cells have been planning and executing frequent attacks in Kenya from Somalia, causing great harm.