Tanzania, Kenya agree to increase trade
President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) with his host Tanzania's John Pombe Magufuli. President Kenyatta visited Mr Magufuli at his Chato home in a move he says is to break the ice amid the two country's often tense trade relations. PHOTO | PSCU
Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday ended their two-day meeting in Chato District with four agreements aimed at boosting bilateral ties.
Among the four deals the heads of state agreed on is the purchase of gas from Tanzania by Kenya, according to a statement released by the State House in Dar es Salaam.
“There is no reason for Kenya to import gas from outside the continent while Tanzania is blessed with abundant reserves,” the statement said, quoting President Magufuli.
It further noted that the two presidents directed energy ministers from both countries to meet and discusss how Kenya would purchase gas from Tanzania.
The meeting between the two leaders will go a long way to calm fears of brewing tension between the two neighbours, following xenophobic remarks by Kenyan politician Charles Njagua, aka Jaguar.
On Friday, Presidents Magufuli and Kenyatta warned against hate remarks uttered by people seeking “cheap populism”, reiterating that their countries will continue to enjoy strong bilateral ties.
President Magufuli noted that Tanzania and Kenya would seek to increase trade, valued at Sh1.048 trillion in 2018.
