Kenyan president urges greater security ties with Israel

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he would like to increase security and intelligence cooperation with Israel, as he meets Israeli President Rueven Rivlin in Jerusalem.

The Kenyan President is on a tour of Israel and met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem on Tuesday as he began a three-day visit to the region.

Rivlin praised Kenyatta for his “commitment to peace”.

Kenyatta admitted his country faced many security challenges, and that he would like to enhance intelligence cooperation.

“Kenya, like Israel, is faced by numerous security challenges which require attention and resources to confront. It is, therefore, my wish that the cooperation on security matters and sharing of intelligence between our two states is heightened to meet the new and increased threats.

“Indeed, it is my sincere hope that this visit of mine will cement the bonds that are already strong and that link our two countries. Let me assure you Mr. President that we in Kenya hold Israel as a dear and very special friend,” Kenyatta said.

The Kenyan president is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The two leaders are likely to discuss Netanyahu’s visit to Uganda and Kenya this summer.

Netanyahu’s trip will mark 40 years since the July 4, 1976 raid in Entebbe, Uganda during which his brother Yonatan was killed in an operation to rescue hijacked Israeli hostages, Israeli media said.

This would be the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to sub-Saharan Africa since Yitzhak Shamir visited four west African states in 1987.