Kenya is keen on furthering its cooperation with Japan in education, health, transport and waste management, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
In a dispatch after meeting the new Japan Ambassador, Ken Okaniwa, at his Karen office, DP Ruto said Kenya is also interested in leveraging its ties with Tokyo to boost export volumes to check the current trade deficit.
Ruto is seeking the presidency in the August 9 General Election.
Ababu Namwamba, Head of International Relations for Ruto Presidential Campaign, said
Kenya-Japan ties can only grow stronger for shared prosperity and mutual benefit of our peoples.
“Deepening Kenya’s ties with friends and partners, by trading and cooperating more is a top priority for DP William Ruto as reiterated today in talks with Japanese Ambassador Okaniwa,” Ababu, the former Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary, said.
Ruto’s meeting with the Japanese envoy came a day after he met Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland for what Ababu said was to “further enhance the special ties between the Commonwealth and Kenya”.
Ruto said he acknowledges Commonwealth’s approval of his peaceful campaigns, adding that, “We commit to working closely with the association towards free, fair, transparent and democratic elections that will pave the way to a smooth transition after the August polls”.
