China to construct Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters at Sh4 billion

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 15- The Government of China has given Kenya a grant of over Sh4 billion, that will be used towards the construction of a new Ministry headquarters.

The offices are likely to be constructed along State House Crescent Road where the Ministry has land.

The ministry has also received two VIP buses from China government to facilitate the work.

The buses were delivered by China Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian and were handed over to Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau.

Kamau expressed gratitude to China on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on his own behalf for the donation which he said will be used in easing movement of special guests around Nairobi during international meetings.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced is how to move our special guests when we organize international meetings because sometimes we want to move them with special transport as opposed to a fleet of cars,” the Principal Secretary said.

“I wish to assure your Excellency that these buses will go a long way not only in facilitating the Ministry’s programmes but also to further solidify our bilateral collaboration.”

Pingjian said Kenya and China have had long standing mutual relations cemented in 1971 Albania’s motion to recognize the People’s Republic of China passed in the UN General Assembly resolution 2758.

“This is a token of appreciation and friendship. We mark 50 anniversary of restoration of the legitimate rights of the People’s Republic of China in 1971, Kenya was firmly with us in that historical event,” the Ambassador said.

The PS noted that the cordial relations between Kenya and China has grown and deepened over the years, “given impetus on the basis of the Strategic Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership Agreement signed in 2016 between the two countries.”

Kenya has benefitted under the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Further, China has supported Kenya’s national development agenda through extensive infrastructure development that has raised the stature of the country as a regional transport and communications hub.