Kampala
— President Uhuru Kenyatta and President John Pombe Magufuli on Friday
directed their ministers to meet quickly to resolve small vexing
differences between Kenya and Tanzania.
The Presidents met
at the Lake Victoria resort of Munyonyo, on the outskirts of the Ugandan
capital Kampala, on the margins of a summit of the East African
Community.
Kenya and Tanzania
have been at odds over various trade and bilateral issues, but President
Magufuli emerged from the meeting to affirm that as leaders, he and
President Kenyatta have no issues.
"We have small
issues relating to businesses and traders between Kenya and Tanzania. We
want Kenya and Tanzania ministers to meet urgently and resolve these
issues," President Magufuli said.
"These are small
matters that should be resolved quickly. As leaders, we don't have a
problem. We are okay," President Magufuli said.
President Kenyatta agreed: "These small matters require urgent attention."
Kenya's East Africa
Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary
Amb. Monica Juma will deal with the issues, agreeing a meeting date with
their Tanzanian counterparts.
Presidents Kenyatta
and Magufuli agreed that it was in the interest of both countries that
Kenya and Tanzania prosper, because growth in one country guaranteed
growth in the neighbour.
They also expressed
their commitment to regional cooperation, and especially to smoother
people-to-people relations, seen as critical to promoting booming
bilateral trade.
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