The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today visited Nairobi, Kenya, to build on Canada’s relationship with Kenya, an important partner and a key contributor to peace and security. Kenya is the second stop on the Minister’s visit to Africa, which also includes Nigeria and Ethiopia.

While in Kenya, Minister Dion met with Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, and Monica Kathina Juma, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to discuss a broad range of shared interests, including regional security, development, sustainable economic growth, women’s empowerment, children and youth, and refugees and the role of women, particularly in the forthcoming elections.

In order to provide young Kenyans with the tools they need to access several demand-driven economic sectors in Kenya, including agriculture and green technologies, the Minister announced $19.1 million in funding to improve the technical and vocational education training system in the country.

To address improvements to border security and immigration management, counterterrorism and radicalization prevention, and to counter violent extremism, Canada is providing an additional $2.38 million to focus on these important challenges.

During his visit, Minister Dion also highlighted the importance of regional security and creating an enabling environment for civil society through inclusion in his exchanges with his Kenyan government counterparts, academics, civil society representatives and United Nations agencies. While in Nairobi, Minister Dion also took the opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Council on co-operation during emergencies, building on the long-standing relationship between Canada and the Aga Khan Council.

Minister Dion’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa is an opportunity to highlight the importance Canada assigns to the region, focusing on peace and stability, security and rule of law. The dynamism at play today across the continent is calling out for Canadian engagement and support for African governments as they channel that dynamism for the benefit of their people.

During the final part of his trip, the Minister will visit Ethiopia.