Uhuru and Boris agree to start post Brexit trade negotiations

President Uhuru Kenyatta (PHOTO: PSCU)

Kenya and the United Kingdom have agreed to start post-Brexit trade agreement in a Saturday phone call between President Uhuru Kenyatta and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The negotiations, which are expected to be finalized ahead of the UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit) by the end of the year, will be conducted within the Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership Framework established by the two leaders in January 2020 and the East African Community (EAC) parameters to enhance regional integration.

In the telephone conversation, President Uhuru and Johnson also discussed several Kenya-UK bilateral interests among them the two nation's response to the global Covid-19 health crisis.

Uhuru thanked the British Government for extending visa over-stay amnesty for Kenyan nationals in the UK who cannot travel back due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions until May 30.

The visa amnesty, President Uhuru noted, had enabled Kenyans especially students and workers, to apply for long-term visa renewal in the UK without having to travel back to Kenya as has been the norm.

He further thanked the UK Government for supporting Kenya's Worker Protection Scheme which he said will benefit garment and horticultural sectors to avoid massive staff layoffs during the current Covid-19 global economic disruption.

On Britain's support for Kenya's successful bid for the recent UN Security Council elections, he thanked Prime Minister Johnson for his country's endorsement.

The two leaders affirmed their strong support for the Commonwealth and committed to working together to ensure stability, continuity, and the deepening of solidarity among Commonwealth nations.