Kenyans in Rwanda happy with relations between Kigali and Nairobi

BY GEORGE KAGAME


The Chairperson of the Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda Ms Carol Nderitu has welcomed the decision by Kenya to abolish working permits for Rwandans able to find employment in her home country.
The decision to abolish work permits for Rwandan residents in Kenya was announced last month by President Mwai Kibaki while on a state visit here. It came only months after Rwanda scrapped working permits for residents of the five member making up the East African Community, however, other members of the EAC have not yet scrapped the permits. In Kenya citizens from other EAC members save for Rwanda are required to have work permits, while the permits are still in place for Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday in Kigali, Nderitu said that the move is an important step towards achieving regional integration and bilateral relations between Kenya and Rwanda. She said members in her association were 'extremely happy" with their relationship with the government of Rwanda and added that officials normally attend meetings of her 316 member group to note issues that they raise.

Nderitu said her association is inspired by the monthly Umuganda public service. "We meet regularly to network and find means of increasing opportunities for trade between Kenya and Rwanda, we have also participated in Umuganda activities to have and promote dialogue between Kenyans here and Rwandans." She said that the asociation is set to host its second annual end of year dinner at Kigali's Serena Hotel this Friday.

To cement the good relations existing between Rwanda and Kenya today, Kibaki also promised that his government was set to eradicate all non-tariff barriers to trade with emphasis on reduction of weigh-bridges and road blocks. The announcement came after Kenya opened up a 24-hr service at the crucial Mombassa port and Rwanda declaring Gatuna customs post open for the same period. There are 30 Kenyan companies that have been approved by the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotions Agency while 2000 Kenyans are recorded to be living in Rwanda.