Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale who is on an official visit in Rome, Italy held bilateral talks with the Minister for Defence from the Republic of Italy the Right Honourable Guido Crosetto in his office.
Hon. Duale noted that over the years, Kenya and Italy have enjoyed cordial relations and have partnered extensively in a number of sectors among them tourism, trade, health, environment, natural resources, water, among others. He observed that, the ties were enhanced following the State visit to Kenya by Italian President, H.E Sergio Mattarella in March this year where he held talks with his host, President William Ruto.
The two Ministers discussed a cross section of issues of cooperation within the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a framework signed by the two countries in February 2012 adding that the two countries are in the process of reviewing the MoU to enhance their defence cooperation.
Under the reviewed Defence Cooperation Agreement, Kenya and Italy shall have a robust collaboration in security and defence policy, research and development, peace support operations, training and education as well as military medical services. Other areas the two countries envisage to partner include counter-piracy and maritime security, exchange of intelligence information, military sports, technical assistance among others.
CS Duale and his host further explored ways of bolstering potential future cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism and counter-violent extremism, cybersecurity, exploitation of the Blue Economy and high level diplomatic visits.
During the talks, the CS was accompanied by Kenya’s Ambassador in Italy Jackline Yonga, the Managing Director of Defence National Security Industries (DNSI) Major General Bernard Waliaula and the Director General of the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) Brigadier Hillary Kipkosgey and Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission to Italy Ms. Consolata Maina.
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