Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Monday, June 5, signed a deal with the Government of Italy touching on scholarships for Kenyans to study abroad.
In a statement, Mutua noted that Kenya and Italy agreed to work together for Kenyans to gain technical experience in Italian companies.
“On the area of scholarships, we agreed to work together for Kenyans to gain hands-on technical experience working in Italian companies. Italy will also train Kenyan teachers to teach Italian and other relevant TVET skills,” read part of CS Mutua’s statement.
This was during a meeting with the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and International Relations Antonio Tajani in Rome, Italy.
The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier visit by Italian President Sergio Mattarella to Kenya in March 2023.
Mutua explained that the meeting was crucial to ensure what was discussed and agreed upon between President William Ruto and President Mattarella is implemented.
“We discussed the Kenya-Italy multi-annual 5-year program of billions of shillings. We also agreed on the construction of mega dams in Kenya and discussed modalities of negotiations to resume construction of the Itare, Arror, and Kimwarer dams,” Mutua noted in a statement.
The Foreign Affairs CS also disclosed that there will be a Kenya-Italy business forum in Kenya in November 2023 to attract Italian investors and tourists.
In areas of blue economy, Mutua stated that Kenya will start exporting fish and other sea food to Italy.
On the other hand, President William Ruto on March 14, held talks with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy at State House Nairobi.
Speaking during a press briefing with President Sergio Mattarella, the Head of State noted that the government would cooperate with the Italian Government to iron out obstacles hindering the progress of the Kimwarer, Arror and Itare dams projects.
"We have agreed to re-establish cooperation on the construction of Arror, Kimwarer and Itare dams and other water and sanitation projects which are critical to our agenda on food security, delivery of water and climate action," stated the President.
According to Ruto, the government was keen on ensuring that the Arror and Kimwarer projects resume in a "matter of months", terming the two dams as "urgent and top priority" for the government's plans to alleviate the water shortage crisis in parts of the Rift Valley.
In addition, the Italian President committed to providing over Ksh13 billion in loans and grants to aid Kenya in the implementation of various projects within the agriculture, health, creative economy, and digital superhighway sectors.
The construction of the two dams (Arror and Kimwarer) hit a snag in 2019 after then-President Uhuru Kenyatta directed their cancellations on grounds of gross embezzlement of funds.
