This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On August 28, 2019, Japan's Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Ryoichi Horie, reflected on the significance of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad) in strengthening Japan-Kenya relations.
Kenya made history in 2016 by hosting the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad VI) in Nairobi, marking the first time the conference was held on the African continent.
The conference, which attracted over 11,000 participants, including 30 African Heads of State and Government, and 70 Chief Executives of Japanese companies, was a testament to the strong ties between Japan and Kenya.
Japan and Kenya established diplomatic relations in 1963, immediately after Kenya gained independence, and have since enjoyed warm and cordial relations.
Japan's commitment to supporting economic growth in Africa led to the establishment of the first Ticad conference in Tokyo in 1993, with the main objective of supporting political and economic reform in Africa and focusing international attention on the continent.
The conference ended with the 'Tokyo Declaration on African Development', which emphasized the twin principles of Ticad: 'African Ownership and International Partnership'.
Today, Japan and Kenya are working together to achieve the 'Big Four Agenda' initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta, which prioritizes food security, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and manufacturing.
Japan is committed to helping Kenya achieve these objectives, as they coincide with the priorities already being addressed or under consideration for country assistance policy by the government of Japan.
One notable example of Japan's support is the Mwea Irrigation Development Project, which aims to help Kenya maximize rice production using the latest and most innovative rice-growing technology from Japan.
At the moment, 70 per cent of the rice produced in Kenya comes from Mwea.
Japan and Kenya have also collaborated on universal health coverage (UHC), with Japan providing Kenya with a policy loan to support efforts by the health sector aimed at achieving UHC.
Furthermore, Japan has contributed to the development of infrastructure in Kenya, which is crucial in creating an enabling environment for the industrial sector.
The development of the Mombasa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a perfect example, with the development of the SEZ, led by the Kenyan government in conjunction with Japan, expected to create 27,000 jobs.
Japan has also had a long and fruitful history with the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant, which spans close to 40 years and includes the most recently completed Olkaria V and the refurbishment of the older units.
Currently, about 50 per cent of the geothermal power produced in Kenya is generated at the Olkaria Power Plant.
Japan is committed to working closely with Kenya to develop the power sector, which is not only critical to social and economic development but also clean to protect the environment and assure the health of the nation for generations to come.
Mr. Horie is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kenya.
