By Bethwel Kaino

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya will allocate land to some East Africa Community (EAC) members at the port of Mombasa to foster trade and investment in the region, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

Mr. Ruto said the port is important to the regions development saying allocating land to some of the EAC members will turn the area into the largest and busiest port in the region

"We are giving land to EAC members to fast track development of the region," said Ruto adding that the port was a gateway and critical to the regions development.

Mr. Ruto spoke during talks with JICA officials led by Vice President Mr. Hiroshi Kato who paid him a courtesy call at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi

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He said Kenya is keen on developing closer development ties with the Japanese government.

Mr. Ruto said Japan was a reliable development partner and lauded it for its funding of various development projects in the country through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Deputy President singled out plans by JICA to expand Mwea irrigation project and the rehabilitation of the port of Mombasa as some of the projects being undertaken by the Japanese government.

Mr. Ruto said once the Mwea irrigation project is expanded it would boost rice production in the area besides improving water systems at the expansive scheme so as to stop relying on imports for commodities which can be produced locally.

‘There were challenges which needed to be sorted out and am optimistic that JICA will move fast to have the issue solved,’ said Mr. Ruto.

The Deputy President stressed the need to increase trade and economic cooperation between the two countries noting that through enhanced relations, Kenya could immensely benefit from among others power generation which Japan is among  world leaders.

Japan said it will help Kenya through JICA in initiating projects aimed at attaining universal health coverage in the country.

He said JICA is also eyeing prospects in the LAPSSET (Lamu Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor) project with plans to begin feasibility studies soon.