UK Minister for Africa visits Nairobi to progress UK-Kenya Partnership on security and education
Minister for Africa James Duddridge also launched a UK-supported confidential hotline for reporting crime and gave a speech for Human Rights Day at the University of Nairobi.
UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge MP
UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge MP, visited Nairobi on 10 December in one of the most senior diplomatic visits to Kenya since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to progress the Kenya-UK partnership.
During the one-day visit, the Minister launched a UK-supported confidential ‘crimestoppers’ hotline for reporting crime at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with DCI George Kinoti. The project has been the result of a partnership between the DCI and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
The Minister also visited Westlands Primary School with Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to build momentum ahead of the UK and Kenya co-chairing the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) next year, when we will lead global action to educate every child. Under Kenya and the UK’s leadership, the ambition is to raise KES550 billion globally to educate children across the world.
The Minister also gave a speech to mark Human Rights Day at the University of Nairobi, where he set out the UK’s commitment to human rights and open societies. In a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he also welcomed Kenya’s upcoming seat on the United Nations Security Council, and looked forward to working together on regional security.
UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said:
It is great to be back in Nairobi to build on all areas of the UK-Kenya partnership. Our relationship on security continues to grow, including through our support to help fight crime, and we’re looking forward to joining forces next year to lead global action to educate every child.
The visit comes after the UK and Kenya signed a trade agreement on 8 December in London. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) lays the foundations to expand on bilateral trade, already worth KES200 billion (£1.4 billion) a year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed a five-year Strategic Partnership during a meeting in Downing Street in January of this year.
Background
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View a biography of the Minister for Africa, James Duddridge MP
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The United Kingdom’s relationship with Kenya is based on deep respect and mutual interest. Through our Strategic Partnership, the UK and Kenya are working together to: promote our mutual prosperity; deliver a more secure and stable world; support sustainable development; respond to climate change; and build on our strong people-to-people links. We are also working closely to tackle the shared challenge of COVID-19
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The United Kingdom and Kenya will co-host a high-level summit next year to lead global action to educate every child, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in October. Coronavirus has worsened the global education crisis, with 1.3 billion children – including 650 million girls – out of education at the peak of school closures. Experts warn that many children will never return, particularly as countries experience an economic contraction in the wake of the pandemic
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The crimestoppers hotline will be a free-to-call, confidential crime reporting hotline, which will deal directly with these challenges. The UK’s National Crime Agency will mentor the DCI through the hotline’s launch and establishment