Ministers Joe McHugh’s 4 day visit to Kenya (November 29th – December 2nd)
The Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr Joe McHugh, T.D., visited Kenya from November 29th to December 2nd, 2016. This was the first formal visit by a Government Minister to Kenya since the re-opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Nairobi in October 2014.
The Minister who was accompanied by Mr Michael Gaffey, Director General of Irish Aid and Ms Nicola Brennan, Director/Head of Policy engaged in a busy 4 day programme in which he had the opportunity to see the development programmes supported by the Embassy, Irish Aid and Misean Cara; attend the HLM 2 conference; engage with Irish and Kenyan business people; NGOs; and the local Irish community.
The Minister commenced his visit when he dropped into the new Chancery located on Waiyaki Way, Muthangari. He toured the new facilities and met with the Embassy staff, and was provided with background information for his visit.
Minister meets staff at Irish Embassy, Nairobi. L-R: Ms Teresa Sweeney, Mr Charles Githui, Ms Nehreen Ismail, Mr Humphrey Mwaura, Ms Consolata Nyambura, Mr Michael Gaffey (DG, Irish Aid), Ambassador Dr Vincent O’Neill, Minister McHugh, Mr Douglas Mutunga, Mr Walter Maina, Mr Garvan McCann, and Ms Nicola Brennan (Head of Policy, Irish Aid) Photo: B Inganga
Then it was over to the Ministry of Education to meet with Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi to sign a joint MoU between the Ministry and the Embassy which will see the establishment for the first time in Kenya, of the Young Scientists Exhibition. This exciting innovation will initially be supported by the Embassy and is expected to attract private sector interest and sponsorship. The Young Scientists will complement the current well established Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF) and raise the profile of science in Kenyan secondary schools and highlight the contribution of science for development. It is anticipated that the Young Scientists Kenya will pilot its first exhibition in July 2017.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr Fred Matiangi and Minister McHugh shakes hands on signing of Young Scientists Kenya MoU. Photo: B. Inganga
It was then on to things agricultural as the Minister travelled to Kitengela, an hour out of Nairobi. Here he was hosted by Mr Richard Rugendo, proprietor of the Kevian Food Group. The purpose of this visit was to see the interface between the Irish agriculture development experience with efforts by Kenyan agri-business interests. Based on a visit he made to the Teagasc Kildalton farm in 2015, Mr Rugendo has developed a training and development centre. The Minister also witnessed the signing of an MoU between Kevian and Irish seed company, IPM which will introduce Irish potato varieties to the Kenyan market with a particular focus on varieties suitable for processing.
Article: Irish potato experts invent new spud to help feed millions in Kenya
On the morning of his last day of his visit, the Minister chaired a meeting with Irish and Kenyan Government and business people in the agriculture and agri-business sector. Among the attendants were a number of Kenyans who had visited Ireland in June 2016 as part of an exchange visit co-ordinated by the Embassy. The meeting discussions identified ways in which Ireland-Kenyan agri-business linkages can be enhanced.
L-R: Mr Derek Roulston, IPM, Mr Richard Rugendo, Kevian Foods and Minister McHugh inspect harvest at Kevian Kitengela Demonstration Farm. Photo: B Inganga
The morning of the second day of the Minister’s visit focused on conflict resolution issues. The Minister’s particular interest in conflict resolution processes provided an opportunity to bring together experts and practioners organised by the Rift Valley Institute for a round-table in which conflict in Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia were discussed.
On the next day, the Minister travelled to Tuum,in Samburu county on a visit facilitated by Fr Patrick Devine of the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution. In this remote part of northern Kenya the Minister saw at first hand how the Samburu and Turkana pastoralist communities are trying to address their long-standing ethnic differences to live in peaceful co-existence.
Minister McHugh and Fr Patrick Devine(left), Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR) with local Tuum community and Irish Embassy visitors. Photo: B Inganga
When in Tuum, the Minister had the opportunity to pay a visit to two Irish missionaries, Stephen and Angelina Cowen. The couple, who had started work in Kenya as APSO volunteers in the late 1980s, with the help of funding from Irish Aid, have developed the only girls’ secondary school in this remote part of Kenya.
There are up to a dozen Irish based NGOs with operations in Kenya. These NGOs receive around €6 million in Irish Aid support per year in Kenya. The Minister held a dinner with a number of the NGO representatives to exchange experience and expectations of their work in Kenya. The dinner event provided the Minister with a real insight to development and humanitarian issues in Kenya and the region. It also presented the Minister a chance to recognise and appreciate the work of these NGOs over the years.
As well as the NGOs, the Minister also visited two Misean Cara beneficiaries implementing HIV/AIDS programmes – the DREAM Centre and Nyumbani Home. Between 2012 and 2015, Misean Cara has disbursed €9.6 million in Kenya. The DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition) is run by the Irish Sisters of Charity, led by Sister Catherine Mulligan. The centre is based on the Communita di Saint ‘Egidio principles and provides services for persons living with HIV/AIDS with a particular focus on women to prevent transmission to their children. The DREAM centre has built a strong relationship with Government and is being supported through Government services.
Minister McHugh visits the DREAM Centre, Nairobi and shakes hands with Margaret Wanjiru as Emily Kiptui looks on. Photo: B Inganga
The Nyumbani Orphanage, run by Loreto sister, Mary Owens is known as Children of God Relief Institute, Nyumbani. It was established in September 1992 by Fr. Angelo D’Agostino, Sr. Mary, and a voluntary Board of Directors. Nyumbani, is a Swahili word for “home”, is a residence that provides care to abandoned HIV positive orphans. There are currently 124 children residing in the home in Karen. Since 2000, access to ARV (Antiretroviral) drugs, has assisted the children to enjoy good health, which has in turn enabled them to go to school for education and the children now live a normal life. Over 40 young people are now re-inserted back into the wider community, some still in tertiary education, others employed. The Minister was entertained by the children and toured the facilities. Of particular interest was a state of the art clinical testing laboratory which was built with funding support from Misean Cara.
Nyumbani children provide entertainment for Minister McHugh and delegation. Photo: B Inganga
Outside the Misean Cara funded Nyumbani Diagnostic Laboratory. L-R: Sister Sister Annie Panilkulam, Director, Mr Michael Gaffey, Director General, Irish Aid, Minister McHugh, Sister Mary Owens, Director of Nyumbani Orphanage, and Ambassador O’Neill. Photo: B Inganga
On the international front Minister McHugh attended the Second High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (HLM2), which was hosted by the Government of Kenya. The HLM2 aims to increase the positive impact of development co-operation over the next 15 years, and help shape how existing and new development actors can work together to implement Agenda 2030 and realise the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of HLM2, the Minister launched the OECD States of Fragility Report, a flagship publication from the OECD, which receives funding support from Irish Aid. The Report details the level of violence in the world and proposes recommendations to help address this issue. The report also covers research on violence and ways of monitoring fragility, and examines how global financial flows might support fragile contexts.
On the margins of HLM, Minister McHugh met with Ms Helen Clarke, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme during which she commended Ireland’s stance on hunger and nutrition.
Minister McHugh speaking at the launch of the OECD States of Fragility Report at the Second High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation in Nairobi. Photo: B Inganga
Minister McHugh meets with Ms Helen Clarke, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme during the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (HLM2). Photo: B Inganga
A highlight of the Minister’s visit was the launching of the “100 years of the Irish in Kenya” exhibition. The exhibition initiated by the Embassy as a centrepiece of the 1916 commemorations in Kenya, captures the contribution of Irish people to the development of Kenyan society, over the past 100 years. The event was graced by the presence of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, and Cabinet Secretary, Professor Judi Wakhungu. The latter in her introductory words enthused in particular on the role of the Loreto sisters in her education and personal development. Such contributions by the Irish in Kenya were echoed throughout the event and the First lady’s attendance was an indication of the respect and appreciation of Ireland’s role in Kenya’s development over the past 100 years.
First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta make remarks at the launching of the “100 Years of Irish in Kenya” Exhibition at the National Museum, Nairobi watched on by Minister McHugh and Ambassador O’Neill. Photo; B Inganga
L-R: Minister McHugh, Ambassador O’Neill, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, and Cabinet Secretary, Environment and Natrural Resources, Professor Judi Wakhungu view one of the Irish in Kenya exhibits at the National Museum, Nairobi. Photo: B Inganga
At a lunch event on his final day the Minister was a guest of the Business Ireland Kenya (BIK) group. The Minister exchanged with Irish business people on doing business in Kenya and the potential opportunities for further business collaboration. As a preface to the lunch, the Minister presided in the launch of a BIK publication “Guide to Doing Business in Kenya”. The BIK acknowledged grant funding they received from the Irish Government Emigrants Support Programme. The event also included the signing of an MoU between Homa Bay county and Irish company, Devenish Nutrition. The collaboration between the two partners will see the development of an animal feeds mill in Homa Bay.
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