Ababu Namwamba's 1st Duty as Chief Administrative Secretary

Weeks after being appointed as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ababu Namwamba presided over the closing ceremony of an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) workshop held in Naivasha which served as his first official duty in office.

Ababu, who resigned as Chairman of the Labour party, gave closing remarks during the workshop held to discuss protocol on free movement of persons in the region.

In his speech on Wednesday, the former Labour party leader thanked all the participants for engaging in the workshop and coming up with better mechanisms to facilitate trade in the region.

"I commend all the participants for worthwhile input, which will no doubt enrich the final outcome document. This initiative could not have come at a better time, considering the magnitude of the challenge facing us in the Horn of Africa.

[caption caption="Ababu Namwamba in Naivasha for IGAD workshop"][/caption]

"I have no doubt submissions here have greatly enriched provisions of the draft protocol, and by extension addressed the perceived bottlenecks that would otherwise have been a hindrance to its effective implementation," he conveyed.

He noted that governments were obligated to ensuring free movement of people, goods and services as a critical component in facilitating investments and attracting skilled manpower.

"It is in this context that His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta decreed that Kenya opens her doors to peoples across our continent as part of deliberate efforts to boost intra-Africa trade and investment.

"But of course, opening the doors must be done in consonance with the rule of law so as to protect our citizens against human trafficking and related organized criminal activities.

"I wish to note that migration of people has played a crucial role in creating cohesion and bridging cultural misunderstanding. We are also aware of the involuntary movement of people, particularly occasioned by conflict and other human activities," he added.

He concluded by acknowledging the contribution from the diaspora.

"In 2017 alone, Kenyans abroad sent back home a record Kshs 197.1 billion. This is a live illustration of how beneficial the free flow of human capital can be to our domestic economies. It is a benefit we must harness and deepen across our region."

[caption caption="Ababu Namwamba in Naivasha for IGAD workshop"][/caption]

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