Kenya and Singapore Monday signed an agreement that will ease air connections between the two countries. The agreement, witnessed by Prime Minister Raila Odinga will allow Kenya Airways and Singapore Airlines to operate in the two countries. In the air services agreement, the two countries granted their designated airlines rights to operate in either or both countries. Under the agreement, air carriers from Singapore and Kenya have the flexibility to operate any number of flights to Kenya as well as to Singapore.

The agreement also grants the airlines of the two countries the right to make stops in each other’s territory. It also grants them the right to operate between the territories without any limitations or restrictions on capacity, frequency or aircraft type. The agreement was signed by Kenya’s Minister for Transport Mr. Ali Chirau Mwakwere and his Singaporean counterpart Raymond Lim. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. The two countries also signed another agreement on technical cooperation.

On the technical agreement, the government of Kenya, in its efforts to enhance the development of its infrastructure to support vision 2030 expressed the desire to share Singapore’s developmental experience and expertise. The government of Kenya agreed to engage Singapore Co-operation Enterprise (SCE) in the planning and implementation of affordable and sustainable public housing system. SCE was also asked to conceptualize, implement and manage three special economic zones in Mombasa, Kisumu and Lamu.

The technical agreement was signed by Kenya’s High Commissioner Festus Kaberia and Mr. Alphonsus Chia, the CEO of Singapore Cooperation enterprise. Earlier Mr. Odinga and Mr. Lee HsienLoong held talks at the latter’s palace where they explored various areas of economic and technical cooperation between Kenya and Singapore. Prime Minister Odinga said there was need to increase Kenya’s economic portfolio in Singapore to address the imbalance which is currently in favour of Singapore on the ratio of 1:10.

Noting that Kenya was open to trade and investment, the PM asked the Singaporeans to invest in Kenya’s technical and infrastructure fields especially in ports, communications and tourism. "We have also prioritized the development of energy sector and we are making investments in the production of geothermal, wind, solar, biomass and ethanol." He assured his host that Kenya was ripe for investment adding that the government had embarked on reforms to address concerns raised by international investors notably corruption, bureaucracy ,insecurity and poor infrastructure.

Noting that Kenya could be the entry point for Singapore into the East African region, Mr. Odinga pointed out that the East African community was a large market of 170 million people. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong lauded the signing of the two agreements saying his government will quickly follow up on the signing by increasing its technical and economic presence in Kenya. Earlier, Mr. Odinga was accorded an official reception at Istana palace in Singapore city during which he inspected a colourful guard of honor mounted by detachment of the Singaporean forces. Mr. Odinga visited the Singapore Housing Development Board, the Singapore Mass rapid Transport (SMRT) and Changi International airport.

The PM is accompanied by the Minister for Industrialization Mr. Henry Kosgey, the Minister for Transport Mr. Chirau Ali Mwakwere, the Minister for Housing Mr. Soita Shitanda, the Minister for Trade Mr. Amos Kimunya, the Minister for Information and Communications Mr. Samuel Poghisio and an Assistant Minister for Finance Dr. Oburu Oginga.