Gachagua leads Kenyan delegation to Rwanda for genocide commemoration

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is seen off by Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla at Embakasi Airbase Saturday afternoon.[DPCS]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has left for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

The Deputy President, who will represent President William Ruto, will join Heads of State and Government, envoys and heads of delegations and the people of Rwanda at the commemoration dubbed 'Kwibuka 30' tomorrow, (Sunday April 2024).

The DP was seen off by the Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.

Mr Gachagua is leading a delegation which include Members of Parliament, PS for the Diaspora Roseline Njogu and two university student leaders. The students are Justise Badali, president of Muranga University of Technology and Ngugi Mwaura a stident leader at Pwani University.

The MPs accompanying the Deputy President include Deputy Majority leader Owen Mbaya (Kilifi North), Edward Muriu (Gatanga), Veronicah Maina (Nominated Senator), Patrick Munene (Igamba Ngombe), Julius Rutto (Kesses), Parashina Samuel (Kajiado South), John Kaguchia (Mukurwe-ini), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Agnes Pareiyo (Narok North) and former Starehe MP Charles Njagua Jaguar.

They left Nairobi Saturday afternoon.

The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Remember-Unite-Renew". This will mark the start of week-long activities commemorating the Genocide that claimed over one million lives in 100 days (from April to July 1994).

Later in the evening, the Deputy President will meet and engage with Kenyans living and working in Rwanda for dinner at Serena Hotel in Kigali. Among other issues, the discussions will focus on improving the diaspora experience, investment across various sectors as outlined under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Apart from explaining what the Ruto administration is doing to increase efficiency registration and renewal of documents, the Deputy President will also share plans of close involvement of Kenyans in diaspora in trade, democratic processes and governance of the country.

Already the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is engaged in public participation on the Kenya Diaspora Policy 2024. The Diaspora engagement will also be part of the platform of listening the Kenyans in Rwanda.

There are about 8,000 Kenyans living and working in Rwanda, although only 4,300 are documented.

The Government wants to ensure that all Kenyans in this East Africa State are on record.

The Ruto Administration has been strengthening diplomatic relations with African States and beyond as one of the ways of improving remittance through direct investment back home by Kenyans abroad. This is besides increasing bilateral trade.

In 2022 Kenya recorded exports to Rwanda worth Sh40.9 billion and imports worth Sh3.4 billion. The Balance of Trade of Sh37.5 billion was in favour of Kenya.

President Ruto has emphasised that foreign Missions must be focused on economic diplomacy.

This is important, especially as the country undertakes reforms in the Agriculture Sector and production is on the increase, more so in Tea and coffee- led by the Deputy President.

In past engagements with the envoys and in diaspora meetings, Deputy President has said performance of envoys is pegged on the economic gain to the country, insisting that only those who deliver on this requirement will be considered upon expiry of their contracts.