KBC Channel 1

Author: Nicholas Kigondu

  • President Ruto roots for regional integration as KIICO 2023 opens

    President Ruto roots for regional integration as KIICO 2023 opens

    President William Ruto has challenged African leaders and the private sector to support ongoing efforts aimed at eliminating unnecessary impediments to regional trade.

    Addressing delegates at the opening of the third Kenya international investment conference during the African private sector dialogue on the African continental free trade area, Ruto said Kenya is working on a plan to ease movement of people from the continent.

    Expressing regrets that some of the delegates attending the event were subjected to unnecessary red tape, the president said it should be effortlessness for those seeking to visit the country to do so adding that Kenya, which is described as the cradle of mankind, should be their second home.

    “That might be the last time you are looking for a visa to come to Kenya, because of two reasons. One, this is home and two because we support whole heartedly (AFCTA) and we must remove any impediment to the movement of people around our continent.” Said the president.

    The ongoing conference includes a working retreat for 54 Africa Trade Ministers to develop the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation matrix and Road map that will play a key role in opening the 1.3-billion-person market in Africa for Kenya’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and positioning Kenya as the gateway to Africa. Further, it features the Africa Private Sector Alliance (APSA) Forum that brings together top 100 businesses in Africa to deliberate on Private Sector Growth and Development in the continent.

  • President Ruto rallies African leaders to address regional peace and security

    President Ruto rallies African leaders to address regional peace and security

    President William Ruto has underscored the significance of peace and security in the attainment of Africa’s development agenda.

    Addressing delegates in Nairobi at the opening of the third Kenya international investment conference, Ruto said it was unfortunate that the region continues to suffer from frequent conflicts that have undermined ongoing efforts to realize the establishment of the African continental free trade area.

    “It is not possible that this continent will continue to be a place of conflict and war. What is going on in DRC and Sudan is unacceptable,’” observed the president.

    He called on policy makers to unite in enhancing the capacity of the region as well as actualizing its huge potential.

    ‘We must be able to work together so that we do not destroy our infrastructure and resources and that we harness the full potential of the African young people for them to make progress not make war.” Said Ruto.

    Sudan and the Democratic republic of Congo are among African countries facing strife with grave consequences.  An armed conflict between rival factions of the military in Sudan which began in April this year has witnessed scores of deaths and seen nearly 1.4 million people displaced.

    An escalating conflict in DRC that erupted in 2022 when armed groups launched a new offensive after years of dormancy has left over 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid.