A sign Kenya’s healing its wounds – the new PM’s U.S. visit

EDITOR’S NOTE: It seems Kenya is emerging out of its post-election chaos just a few months ago, unlike Ethiopia, which is on a downward spiral following the 2005 elections. The difference between Kenya and Ethiopia is that the ruling party in Ethiopia, Woyanne, would rather completely destroy the country than give up power. We also have an opposition that is timid, to say the least. The following is a news about the recent successful visit by Kenya’s newly elected Prime Minister to the U.S.

Raila reaps more goodies for Kenya

By Brian Adero and PMPS, The Standard

Prime Minister Raila Odinga reaped more goodies for Kenya during his American trip when he signed an agreement that opens the route for Kenya Airways direct flights to the US.

Raila and American Secretary of Transport Mary Peters signed the US-Kenya Open Skies Agreement for direct flights for airlines from both countries.

Kenya Airways, the only airline in Kenya with the capacity to fly across the Atlantic, can now reap from the lucrative opportunity.

The US also announced that its American Delta Airlines would fly direct to Nairobi from next year.

The agreement, internationally known as the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (Basa), is subject to upgrading of main airports to what is termed Category One Standard.

In anticipation of the agreement, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), which attained ISO certification last week, on Thursday confirmed it was upgrading Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Category One Status.

Transport Permanent Secretary Abdulrazaq Adan Ali told The Standard that by November, the airport would have attained the status.

Raila signed the agreement with Peters just a day after the approval by congressmen, agencies and key US financiers to endorse Sh5.8 billion funding for rehabilitation following post-election violence.

Speaking at the US Transport Department in Washington, DC, Peters said America was keen to work with Kenya’s Transport ministry on aviation.

Saying ‘open skies’ were the standard for modern aviation, Peters pointed out: “We want to remove regulatory barriers to facilitate this aviation accord between Kenya and the US.”

The US has already signed 90 open-sky accords, 20 with African countries, she said.

Raila said Kenya would use the opportunity to link the national airline directly with New York, among other US cities.

“This will make it easier for horticulture and flower businesses,” said the PM.

He indicated that the agreement would help Kenya acquire Category One air status and provide 24-hour services so that travellers would not have to go through Europe.

The PM said the agreement was a crucial link between transport and prosperity of Kenya and the US and noted it would increase the number of American tourists to Kenya.

“Our concentration has traditionally been in the European market,” said Raila.

Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere, who is in Raila’s entourage, said the agreement would provide a vital alternative for the business community and help market Kenya’s tourism.

“It’s been a long process of negotiations,” said Mwakwere.

In Nairobi, KAA Managing Director George Muhoho said: “The authority now joins organisations that have demonstrated full commitment to provide a service that consistently conforms to acceptable global standards.”

He went on: “The process to attain Category One Status is on and we are committed to that.”

Category One rating is a privilege for a country whose aviation standards conform to those set by International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Meanwhile, the US Corporate Council on Africa hosted Raila to a dinner in Washington attended by business people.

The PM told the meeting that one objective of the trip was to promote trade between Kenya and the US.

Corporate Council director Asfaw Alemayehu said its more than 180 members were looking for investment opportunities in Kenya, among them General Motors and Microsoft.

Earlier, the PM met US officials, among them Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Assistant Secretary for Africa Jendayi Frazer, congressmen and senators.

The Prime Minister held discussions with Rice at her office in Capitol Hill.

Raila and other officials return home on Friday night.