Raila urges S Korea to support Somalia peace efforts

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) confers with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hwang Sik in Nairobi July 9, 2012. Mr Oding urged South Korea to support the ongoing efforts to restore peace in Somalia and the two Sudan nations. PMPS

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged South Korea to support the ongoing efforts to restore peace in Somalia and the two Sudan nations.

Mr Odinga asked the visiting South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang to help in the establishment of a legitimate state in war ravaged Somalia to contain the insecurity menace posed by terrorist cells and pirates in the Horn of Africa.

"We call upon South Korea to be steadfast in support for the reconstruction in Somalia and demanding stability and peace in the Sudans," the PM said.

He stressed the need for Kenya and South Korea to strengthen their ties on security issues to detect and deter any threats posed by terrorist groups and piracy.

Mr Odinga, who hosted a dinner party for Mr Hwang, said cooperation between the two nations was of mutual benefit to both parties and said Kenyans had a lot to share and learn from the “economic miracle” that transformed Korea into an industrialised nation.

“Korea is well known for transforming the lives of its people through very revolutionary rural sector agrarian policies that put the country on the path to self sufficiency in food and other areas,” he said.

The PM said Kenya will increase exports of agricultural products to S Korea as it continues to buy manufactured products from the latter.

“We will be able to buy more of your Hyundais and KIAs and Samsung while you buy our tea , beef and coffee” he said.

Mr Odinga, who was accompanied by his wife Ida Odinga, said the country was looking forward to S Korea investments in flagship projects under the Vision 2030 programme.

“We want the Koreans investment in flagship projects under the Vision 2030 like the LAPSSET, development of three berths and associated infrastructure for the Lamu Port at Manda Bay,” Mr Odinga said.