The Vice President Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Moses Wetang’ula undertook an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from 7th to 9th March 2008. The high profile delegation that also included the Ambassador of Kenya to Germany, H.E. Mr. H. Mutuma Kathurima, met with two key German ministers, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeir, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Germany and Mrs. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development on 7th March 2008.

The Vice President and his team used their back to back meetings with the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development, to appeal for support for reconstruction, following massive economic losses arising from the post election violence.

In talks with Germany´s Foreign Minister, the Kenyan side thanked the German Government for supporting Kenya during the negotiations, adding that the negotiators borrowed from the German experience on the working of a grand coalition and the principle of portfolio balance.

“Members of Parliament will move with speed to give legal effect to the Agreement so that all aspects of the grand coalition including the operationalisation of the office of the Prime Minister and his two deputies, will become a reality” said the Vice President.

Mr Steinmeier said his country was delighted that the dark cloud which hung over Kenya for the last two months has finally drifted away. He said Germany will assist Kenya to reconstruct in order to move forward towards stability and development.

In discussions with the Development Co-operation Minister, the Vice President requested for emergency financial assistance for the purchase of seed and fertilizer for farmers in the areas affected by clashes in the post December 2007 election violence, especially those in the nation’s breadbasket, the Rift Valley.

He also urged Germany to increase her long term bilateral assistance to Kenya in the critical water, education, housing and road construction sectors.

Mrs Wieczoreck-Zeul said that what happened in Kenya was a major setback to the country’s good name and development record, adding that Kenyan leaders must ensure that the possibility of the violence never recurs.

“We will consider what is possible for our country to do to help and what also our partners within the European Union can contribute. Kenya will always remain a friend of Germany; Mrs Wieczoreck-Zeul said.

In the meeting with the German development Co-operation Minister, Hon. Musyoka was accompanied by what he presented as the face of Kenya’s forthcoming grand coalition. Apart from Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, the delegation included four Members of Parliament, namely; Orange Democratic Movement (ODM’s) Pentagon Member Hon. Najib Balala and fellow party member Hon. Lorna Laboso, the PNU’s Hon. Kilemi Mwiria and the Orange Democratic Movement - Kenya (ODM-K’s) Hon. Kiema Kilonzo.

Mr Balala said the grand coalition government will work hard to address the needs of all Kenyans especially the very poor.