Kenya to ink lucrative deals with US ahead of summit

Kenya is expected to sign multi-billion shilling pacts with the US ahead of the two-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) that opens in Nairobi on Saturday.

Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohamed said on Thursday most of the deals would target infrastructure and health sectors as well as cooperation in taxation and emigration.

The agreements, to be signed Friday afternoon, will signal a deepening of economic ties between the Kenya and the US ahead of President Barack Obama’s arrival Friday evening.

Ms Mohamed said the emigration pact has clauses extending the visa period for Kenyans visiting the US, which is currently limited to a maximum of 12 months.

“We have scheduled a signing ceremony tomorrow (Friday) at one o’clock and will be able to give you the details,” she said during a press briefing in Nairobi.

US officials said the summit offers the two nations an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations in trade and investment, security and in countering violent extremism.

“We hope this event will help support and accelerate the dynamism and innovation that has driven Kenya’s strong economic performance in recent years,” said US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec.

He said bilateral talks between President Obama and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta would seek to support Kenya’s health, efforts to tackle corruption, and combat poaching as well as wildlife trafficking.

The two presidents will co-host the sixth edition of GES in Nairobi, the first in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Obama launched GES in 2009, aiming to establish a forum for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors from across the world to exchange ideas that could help spur economic growth.

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Hundreds of Kenyan innovators and start-ups will be looking to attract private equity and venture capitalists as well as form partnerships at the event.

Kenya Investment Authority officials said they would showcase business opportunities to global investors, including the multi-billion-shilling Konza Technopolis that aims to position Nairobi as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah” upon completion in 2018.

The tech city has attracted the interest of US firms such as Google under an arrangement where the government provides infrastructure and land for private investors to set up operations on the 5,000-acre piece of land.

East Africa’s largest economy is also expected to showcase its special economic zones for industrialists to set up operations, including in the geothermal energy-rich Naivasha.

Mr Godec said there would be minimal disruption of mobile phone services given previous visits by high profile US officials have in the past resulted in jammed networks.

Mr Obama will be accompanied by members of the Congress and other top US government officials.

State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said Mombasa Road would not be completely closed but there would be changes in normal patterns of traffic flow this afternoon.

“In any case the changes will only affect tomorrow and normalcy will be restored on Saturday,” he said and clarified that today is not a public holiday.