UBALOZI NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE A Newsletter of the Kenya High Commission, Ottawa, Canada President Uhuru Kenyatta Attends G7 Summit H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta was among a select group of leaders invited to the G7 Summit in Quebec, Canada. The Outreach session focused on the theme of the Blue Oceans Economy. The President held a number of high level meetings with the Prime Minister of Canada and other world leaders on bilateral and international matters. He was accompanied by the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amb. Monica Juma and other senior government officials. He reiterated that the G-7 has the political and financial muscle to help raise the level of ambition and sophistication in driving the healthy oceans agenda. The President is presented with flowers by Ms Lisa Koech on his arrival at the Fairmont Le Chateau Fontenac Hotel, Quebec City, Canada He reassured the summit that Kenya subscribed to the ideals and charter of the COP 21 Paris H.E President Uhuru with the Prime Minister of Canada Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau Agreement and called for enhanced legal sanction to ensure that no country is left behind in the collective quest to save our planet and safeguard resources for future generations. The President told the summit that Kenya has a large and rich but largely unexploited coastline along the Indian Ocean and several lakes including part of Lake Victoria. He regretted that successful exploitation of Africa s blue economy is hampered by maritime threats including illegal and unregulated fishing by foreign trawlers, piracy, human trafficking, smuggling of contraband goods and degradation of marine eco-systems through marine litter and the destruction of coral reefs and coastal forests He called for a concerted effort by the international community to combat pollution of the marine ecosystem and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Kenya High Commission, 415 Laurier Av, E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6R4 Website: www.kenyahighcommission.ca Email : Balozi@kenyahighcommission.ca
Chief Justice Maraga Visits Canada explored the areas of possible future collaboration between Canada and Kenya judicial institutions. Page 2 Hon David Maraga, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court and also the chair of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), led a delegation from the Commission for a two week benchmarking tour of Canadian judiciary institutions from 15th June to 2nd of July, 2018. The Delegation comprised of Mrs. Mercy Deche, Vice Chair of the JSC. Other members included Prof. Tom Ojienda, Justice Aggrey Muchelue, Hon. Emily Justice Maraga and his team with their Canadian hosts outside the Supreme Court of Canada They learnt that each of the institutions operates independently but consult on a need basis. They also learnt that there are strict timelines for cases to avoid the same dragging for too long. Judiciary relies on the Executive for financial Support to run its programmes. During their stay in Canada, the delegation made time to pay a courtesy call on the High Commission where they were received by Amb. (Prof) Jane Kerubo the Deputy head of Mission on behalf of the High Commissioner. They were introduced to the members of staff. Hon Chief Justice Maraga with his Canadian Counterpart Rt Hon Richard Wagner Ominde, Hon. Ann Amadi, Mrs. Winfrida Mokaya, Mr. Bernard Ochieng, Ms. Ann Asugah and Ms. Nancy Nyamwamu, Legal Officer. The delegation visited the Supreme Court of Canada where they were received by the Chief Justice Rt. Hon Richard Wagner and other officials of the Supreme Court. Hon. Maraga and Hon. Wagner Justice Maraga with the staff of the Kenya High Commission, Ottawa 2
Page 3 National Initiative on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) The Cabinet Secretary for Education Amb. Amina Mohamed led a delegation, comprising of the CEO of Equity Bank, Mr James Mwangi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Executive Office of the President, Dr Ruth Kagia and Amb Jane Kerubo, the Deputy Head of Mission to a seminar at the Matsercard Foundation led by the CEO Dr Peggy Woo. The purpose of the meeting was to enhance Kenya s TVET education portfolio in line with the Wings to Fly Scholarship Program to include diverse areas that touch on the Big 4 Development Agenda. Kenya Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations The Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee visited the Mission on an oversight inspection tour. The Committee led by Hon. Yussuf Hassan, comprised of Hon. Patrick Makau, Hon. Tuwei and Hon. Nyagah Nkatha. The delegation was received by the Deputy Head of Mission Amb.(Prof) Jane Kerubo. seminar looked into modalities of expanding and establishing the program and sought to fast track the initiative as an outcome of the G7 Summit. Amb Amina Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education, Kenya CS Balala on a Study Tour of Parks Canada Hon. Najib Balala, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, led a team of senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to visit several parks in the province of Alberta in Canada from 29 th June to 6th July, 2018. The purpose of the visit was to get best practices in the management of Parks and wildlife conservation. The team consisted of policy makers, wildlife conservation professionals, community conservation experts and Kenya Tourism Board members. Parliamentary committee during their visit in Canada The team held a working meeting with members of staff and toured the Chancery and all the mission s assets besides having meetings with the Canada Africa Parliamentary Association chair, Sen. Andreycuck and her committee and Hon Hassanali, Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary association and the Director Africa of the Global Affairs ministry. The team also visited Niagara Falls and had an interactive session and dinner with the Kenya Diaspora in Ottawa. Focus on the digital economy and most notably Kenya s AJIRA program were discussed. The two day 3 The Ministry of tourism delegation with their hosts in Canada The Ministry is currently working on a National Wildlife Conservation and Management Strategy and the team hopes to use the Canadian experience to enrich the strategy. Parks Canada Agency which is the equivalent of Kenya Wildlife Services is a government ran organization headed by a Chief Executive Officer, currently Mr. Daniel Watson under the Ministry of Environment. The Agency manages over 47 National
Page 4 Parks and conservancies. Parks Canada has been collaborating with KWS since 2006 and has been providing financial and technical support to KWS over the years. The areas of interest during the study tour included human wildlife conflict, parks and wildlife management and access to parks and attraction sites by persons living with disabilities. The CS and his team used the occasion to promote Kenya s tourism. He informed those present of the latest development in the sector including direct flights from Kenya to the USA starting October this year. During the visit, the CS had a chance to meet with tour operators and journalists at a Magical Kenya Cocktail at Fairmont Royal York in Toronto where he gave a keynote address. Amb. Lanyasunya presents awards at Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Event H.E John Lanyasunya on 25 th August, 2018 attended a function organized by Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) where he co-presented awards with Dot founder Ms Janet Longmore to successful youth who won a trip to Kenya. They will participate in the Annual Dot Youth Unconference that takes place in October, 2018 in Hon. Balala at a cocktail party in Toronto Kenya Airways will start direct flights between Nairobi and New York from October 2018 The Conference will be attended by youth from various parts of the world. Dot is a Canadian trust that was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. It has locally managed offices in Kenya and 12 other Countries but works in 25 countries spread across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Canada. It supports youth to become innovators and leaders and to create and apply digital solutions that have positive impact to the community. Dot works closely with private sector, Nairobi. Amb Lanyasunya giving a keynote address at the function 4 governments, and community-based organizations towards this end. DOT states that they have a network of 6000 youth whose contributions have benefited 1 million people around the world. The High Commissioner congratulated the winners and wished them a successful conference in Nairobi. He lauded DOT for using the youth in socio-economic development of their communities noting that the youth hold the key to the future. He added that the choice of Kenya to host the conference was good as the youth form the bulk of the population and are ready to embrace new technology.
Page 5 Kenya Diaspora in Quebec BBQ on August 18, 2018 The Kenyan Association in Quebec had their annual Summer barbecue on Saturday 18 th August at Parc Angrignon, Montreal. It was attended by Kenyans from all walks of life. Present also were Friends of Kenya from Canada, Senegal, Tunisia and other African countries. Attendees were treated to traditional Kenyan foods like Chapati, Nyama Choma, Kuku choma and pilau. Kenyan music Zilizopendwa was played to entertain the guests as they sampled the Kenyan Cuisine. According to the chairperson of the Kenyan Diaspora in Quebec this occasion is used by the community to create a forum for Kenyans and friends of Kenya to interact and market Kenya and her products. The occasion is also used to welcome Kenyans who have just arrived in Montreal to the larger Kenyan community. The Deputy Head of Mission Amb. (Prof.) Jane Kerubo represented the High Commissioner in the 2018 event. She applauded the KCO in Quebec for the good work they are doing in promoting Kenyan products especially Kenyan tea. She joined the KCO officials in welcoming the new arrivals in Montreal and encouraged them to register with the High Commission and take part in the mission activities Kenyans and friends of Kenya enjoying Kenyan dishes. The servings included Chapati, ugali and nyama choma All Kenyans living in Canada are encouraged to register with the High Commission online through the citizens portal of the Mission website www.kenyahighcommission.ca Like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/kenyahighcommissionottawa/ for regular updates Amb (Prof) Jane Kerubo addresses Kenyans at the park 5
Pictorials Page 6 President Uhuru being introduced by Amb Lanyasunya to his staff and Kenyans living in Canada on his arrival for G7 Summit Amb Lanyasunya with Hon HarjitS. Sajjan Canada s Minister for National Defence President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Trudeau during the G7 Summit. With them are CS Foreign Affairs Amb Monica Juma and Hon Hussien, Canadian Minister for Immigration and other delegates High Commission staff and representatives of Kenyan Diaspora posing for a group photo with Kenya athletes who participated in the 2018 Ottawa marathon. The Mission had hosted lunch in their honour Promoting magical Kenya as a tourist destination Like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/kenyahighcommissionottawa/ 6
Page 7 Amb. Lanyasunya presenting jerseys to Safari 7s Rugby Team in Vancouver during the World Rugby Sevens series 2018 Vancouver, BC Mr Joseph Korir, who took second position in the 2018 Ottawa Marathon poses for a photo with staff of the mission led by the Deputy Head of Mission Canadians sampling Kenyan cuisine during a past event Amb Lanyasunya presents a Coat of Arms to Mr Sunir Chandaria, Kenya s Honorary Consul to Toronto The High Commissioner and some Mission staff after a briefing session for Kenya s Honorary Consul to Toronto (in white jumper) Like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/kenyahighcommissionottawa/ Ms Lucy Mungai, a Kenyan resident of Victoria BC using her resources to promote Kenya during a community function 7