President Uhuru Kenyatta was gifted with a beautiful painting by Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Michael Holness, during his 4-day state visit in the tropical island.
In return, Uhuru handed his counterpart a curving of wildebeests hopping across the mara river, one of the 7 wonders of the worlds witnessed only in Kenya.
The two leaders, who met at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston, also witnessed the signing of several agreements.
Uhuru maintained that the one sure way of deepening the partnership between Kenya and Jamaica, was to encourage more trade and deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
“We need to deepen our trade because by so doing we also take our people-to-people relations to the next level. Kenya is today one of the largest and one of the most diversified economies on the African continent,” he asserted.
In a move that could change Kenya's air transport potential, Uhuru also proposed that the two nations work out a way to create direct flights between the two nations.
“Our national carrier now has scheduled direct flights from Nairobi to New York but we would like to see flights flying from the East Coast to the West Coast of Africa and directly to Jamaica, and through Jamaica to the rest of the Caribbean as a true way of deepening our partnership,” he stated during a joint press conference with PM Holness.
The two leaders also pledged to find a way to merge their strengths in the field of sports, with Kenya dominant in the long-distance track events, and Jamaica famous for its legendary short-distance sprinters.
“Jamaica, Kenya relations are deeply rooted. It is well documented that our first national hero The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey had a significant influence on Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister of Kenya and later its first President,” said PM Holness.
Earlier, President Kenyatta who was accompanied by First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, was received by his host PM Holness and Governor-General Patrick Allen in a colourful state reception.
