Visits by Ministers and Assistant Ministers in 2006

Hon. Raphael Tuju, Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 25th to 31st May 2006. The Minister held meetings with Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Karin Kortmann, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Mrs. Anke Fuchs, President, Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation, Mr. Peter Eigen, Founder and Chairman of the Advisory Council of Transparency International, Mr. Hartwig Fischer, Chairman of the German- Africa-Foundation, Mr. Patrick Meinhardt, Chairman of the East African Group (Group Four) in the Federal Parliament, Mr. G. Haller, State Secretary and Head of the President’s Office. The central theme in the Ministers visit was to counter the negative perceptions of Kenya , and lack of information on progressive developments in Kenya that have become increasingly prevalent within the German political establishment.

The Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Prof. Kivutha Kibwana visited Bonn , Germany a number of times in 2006, to attend meetings of the Bureau of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Minister was accompanied on some occasions by his Permanent Secretary, Professor George Krhoda. The Minister also attended the Global Carbon Market Fair and Conference in Cologne from 10th to 12th May 2006 and the Inter-Governmental Inter-Sessional Working Group meeting organized by the UNCCD from 22nd to 23rd May 2006. The Minister is the incoming President of the Bureau of the UNFCCC.

Hon. Morris Dzoro, Minister for Tourism and Wildlife visited Berlin from 10th to 12th March 2006 to lead the Kenyan delegation to the International Tourismus Boerse which took place from 9th to 13th March, 2006. Thirty-nine Kenyan companies participated in the exhibition. Among the Kenyan officials accompanying the Minister were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Rebecca M. Nabutola; the Chairman, Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), Mr. Jakes Grieves-Cook, and the Managing Director, KTB, Dr. Ongonga’ Achieng.

Hon. Dzorro visited Germany again from 2nd to 6th September 2006, where he took part in the Kenya Top Lounge, an annual tourism promotion event organized by the headquarters of Severin Sea Lodge hotel in Sunderland .

The Minister for Water and Irrigation, Hon. Mutua Katuku, visited Germany in April 2006, where he undertook a Study Tour.

Visits by Other Senior Officials in 2006

The Director and Chief Executive of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, (KACC) Hon. Justice Aaron Ringera paid an official six day visit to Germany between Saturday 14th and Thursday 19th October 2006. He undertook a study tour aimed at providing the KACC with an opportunity to share experiences and learn from German organizations, best strategies in fighting corruption. The Director was accompanied by two Assistant Directors, Dr. John Mutonyi and Dr. Smokin Wanjala.

Fourteen participants of the Kenya National Defence College led by the Commandant, Lt. General J. K. Tuwei made a one week study visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from 14th to 21st October, 2006.

Visits by Ministers and Assistant Ministers in 2005

Nobel Peace Laureate and Assistant Minister for the Environment, Hon. Prof. Wangari Maathai visited Germany from 24th to 28th May. Prof. Maathai took part in a Public Panel Discussion on “Poverty reduction and Environmental Conservation as conflict prevention in the 21st century”. She also attended an IEG Conference themed “Towards a Stronger System of International Environmental Governance” and held discussions with Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Jurgen Trittin, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Protection and Reactor Security. Her visit was coordinated by the Heinrich Boll Foundation and the German Protestant Church.

The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Kiraitu Murungi visited Munich and Berlin from 8th to 15th May 2005. The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Evan Gicheru amongst others. The delegation attended a conference on “Promoting the rule of Law in Sub-saharan Africa. They also held talks with several Federal Government officials including the Federal Minister for Justice, Ms. Brigitte Zypries and the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Prof. Dr. Ernst Benda. Their visit was sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Hon. Morris Dzorro, Minister for Tourism and Wildlife, led a delegation comprised of officials from his Ministry and tourism stakeholders to Berlin from 10th to 16th March 2005. The delegation which included the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Rebecca Nabutola, took part in the International Tourism Bourse (ITB). They also hosted a Kenya Day at the Tropical Island.

The Minister for Water and Irrigation, Hon. Martha Karua, accompanied by Hon. John Munyes Assistant Minister in the same Ministry and other Ministry officials visited Germany from 2nd to 5th February 2005, where they undertook a Study Tour.

Visits by Other Senior Officials in 2005

Two Members of Parliament Hon. Sam Poghisio MP and Hon. Joseph Nyaga, MP, visited Berlin from 2nd to 4th June 2005 to attend the 10th International Berlin Gathering.

A delegation of Kenyan Parliamentarians, led by Deputy Speaker Hon. David Musila, MP, visited Germany from 9th March 2005. The team which included Hon. Daniel Khamasi, MP, Hon. Sam Poghisio, MP, Hon. Ekwe Ethuro, MP, and Mr. P.C. Owino Omolo, Deputy Clerk, held a series of meetings with their German counterparts in the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the States of East Africa, and other Parliamentary officials. The visit was organized by the European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA).

The Commissioner of Police, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hussein Ali, accompanied by the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr. Joseph Kamau, visited Berlin to attend an INTERPOL Conference.