Nairobi, 24 November 2021 (TDI): Rita French, the British Global Ambassador for Human Rights & Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geneva, arrived in Kenya on a three-day official visit. During her visit, the Ambassador held several meetings with Kenyan officials and portrayed support for the betterment of the people and government of Kenya.
The purpose of the meeting was to gauge the situation and have a better understanding of the ground realities of the people surviving in the Republic of Kenya. Throughout her tour to Kenya, the British Ambassadors and partners held several meetings and sessions for a better and prosperous future of Kenya and its people.
Jambo Kenya! 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/KAwNxtzEvf
— Rita French 🇬🇧 (@RitaFrenchFCDO) November 19, 2021
During her visit, Ambassador Rita French met with higher officials, including the Kenyan Deputy Minister of Health, Kenyan National Commission and Partners on Human Rights, Kenyan Women in Politics, UNFPA Kenya, and Kenyan Education ministry officials.
Arrival at the Polycom Development Project
On her arrival in Kenya, the British Ambassador was received by Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, the Chief Administrative Secretary – Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs Republic of Kenya. Both of the officials, along with UNFPA Kenya members, visited the Polycom Development Project.
This project, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, works for girl child protection and development. At her visit, the Ambassador was schooled about the status of girl child in Kenya.
Meeting with Deputy Minister for Health
Later on, the British Ambassador joined Kenyan Deputy Minister of Health and UNFPA at the Mbagathi Hospital Kenya. There, the Ambassador talked about access to family planning and termed it as central to women’s empowerment.
Pleasure joining deputy Minister for Health and @UNFPA at mbagathi hospital in Kenya 🇰🇪. Access to family planning is not only a matter of human rights; it is also central to women’s empowerment, reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development. pic.twitter.com/jnGHyOhrtw
— Rita French 🇬🇧 (@RitaFrenchFCDO) November 20, 2021
Along with it, achieving sustainable development and reducing poverty were some of the key factors discussed between the British Ambassador and the Kenyan Deputy Health Minister.
Talks with Kenyan National Commission & partners on Human Rights
The British Ambassador also tabled talks with Kenya National Commission & partners on Human Rights, including the United Kingdom – Kenya Cooperation.
During the meeting, the attendees discussed the strength of the Human Rights Institution in Kenya, and working for and delivering fair and peaceful elections in 2022. Along with it, the meeting also revolved around public order, the death penalty, Gender-Based Violence, and access to justice.
Enriching conversation with Kenya National Commission & partners on Human Rights including 🇬🇧-🇰🇪cooperation.
We discussed:
🔹strength of human rights institutions in Kenya
🔹delivering fair and peaceful elections in 2022
🔹public order, death penalty, GBV and access to justice. pic.twitter.com/ddke0T11Pu— Rita French 🇬🇧 (@RitaFrenchFCDO) November 22, 2021
The Ambassador showered her support towards the Kenyan official and hoped that the 2022 election would bring more peace, justice, and prosperity for the people of Kenya.
Meeting with Kenyan Women in Politics
Keeping in mind the upcoming Kenyan Presidential Election of 2022, the British Ambassador held talks with Kenyan Women in Politics. During the meeting, the attendees discussed ways and means to enhance women’s participation in the election.
Along with it, talk related to the United Kingdom’s support of the political empowerment of women was also brought under the light.
Coordination with Kenyan Education Minister
During her visit, the Ambassador applauded the Kenyan Government’s efforts for enrolling more and more children into school. She also praised Kenya’s pledge for allocating and investing more than 20% of the national budget for education.
More children in Kenya 🇰🇪 are going to school thanks to Kenya’s pledge to spend more than 20% of the national budget on education.
As a result, more teachers are needed to ensure #EducationForAll
I met with @TSC_KE and @Educ_Kenya on their plans to address this. pic.twitter.com/lx1hfO5w2E
— Rita French 🇬🇧 (@RitaFrenchFCDO) November 23, 2021
She also encouraged the enrollment of new teachers and educationists to guarantee education for all. The British Ambassador also met with the Kenyan Teachers Service Commission and members of the Kenyan Ministry of Education.
Arrival in Kajiado
Lastly, the British Global Ambassador for Human Rights & Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geneva, also arrived in Kajiado, the first Kenyan county to declare the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She agreed that engagement at the grassroots level is necessary for ending GBV and FGM.
The British Ambassador’s visit to Kenya proved to be a fruitful engagement with the people and government of Kenya. Such official visits do not only strengthen relations between states but also improve people-to-people relations.
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