French President receives visiting Kenyan counterpart

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday received his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, at his residence at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

The men discussed several bilateral and multilateral subjects of mutual interest.

Most of the discussions were on infrastructure projects in Kenya that are backed by France that includes the expansion of the $1.4 billion 233 kilometer (145 mile) Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road whose construction is set to begin in September, according to the presidency in Kenya.

“Besides infrastructure, Presidents Kenyatta and Macron discussed enhanced cooperation in the health sector particularly in building Kenya's capacity to manufacture vaccines locally,” it said.

Kenyatta said in a national address earlier this week that the country’s long-term strategy is to set up a Human Vaccine Centre.

“I have directed a multi-agency team to activate this plan and to focus not only on the COVID-19 vaccine but on any other human vaccine needed in our region.”

Kenyatta and Macron also spoke about the forthcoming Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Summit in London that will be hosted by Kenyatta and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.​​​​​​​