Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lauded Colombian Vice President Francia Elena Màrquez for her resilience likening the Colombian leadership and priorities to that of Kenya.
In his welcoming speech on Monday, May 15, Gachagua stated that he was delighted to host the VP because of the similarities in their story noting that both of them had to overcome challenges to attain the positions they had in government.
He congratulated Francia for winning the elections to become the first woman of African descent to take the office of vice president in Colombia rising from a housekeeper.
Further, Gachagua stated that just like how the people of Colombia believed in their VP, who was also a freedom fighter, Kenyans chose him and President William Ruto to lead despite coming from humble backgrounds.
"They identified with our humble background and trusted us with leadership. Our president who sold chicken to make ends meet wore shoes for the first time in high school.
"I grew up in poverty. My body was heavily infested with jiggers but here we are today,” stated Gachagua.
The DP also noted that the government of Colombia was focused on uplifting low-income earners just like the Kenyan government.
"This visit is significant because it comes a few months after elections in Colombia and Kenya. Both elections were entrenched in the deep desire for change focused on uplifting the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
"Our people embraced the conversation that it was time to dignify the hustler in Kenya and the nobodies in Colombia. They identified with our humble background and trusted us with leadership," added the DP.
In addition, Gachagua noted that Francia Elena Màrquez, was a true hustler because of creating a legacy that inspired others from her community.
"A girlchild from the generation of African slaves and freedom fighters rose from a housekeeper to the second most powerful office in the government of Colombia.
"From a tender age, you have created and sustained a legacy of fighting for the freedom and dignity of the people. You are indeed a real hustler," Gachagua noted.
The visiting VP on the other hand stated that the Colombian government was ready to work with Kenya noting that it was time to unify countries from the African continent.
She stated that there was difficulty in travelling between the two nations adding that the Colombian government was willing to revise Visa policies with Kenya to allow both countries to travel freely.
Additionally, she revealed that both countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to better airline connection between the two nations.
Francia welcomed trade and the exploration of programmes and projects between the two countries including in sectors such as health.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding to start working on a better airline connection between Kenya and Colombia because we would like to make sure that we better connect with the African continent.
“No more separation. The era of separation that lasted for so long needs to come to an end. We must be able to reach this continent easily and vice versa,” she stated.
