NAIROBI (Kenya), Nov 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lauded Kenya’s strong commitment to poverty alleviation and affordable housing, describing it as ‘remarkable leadership’.
Relating it to Malaysia’s own approach in tackling hardcore poverty, Anwar said: “I am, like you, very, very passionate about poverty alleviation, housing for the poor and for the masses.”
Speaking at a state banquet hosted by Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto last night, he said the East African nation’s ambitious programme to build more than 150,000 housing units for low-income communities reflected an outstanding model of leadership.
Anwar, who is on a two-day official visit, said he was particularly inspired by Kenya’s focus on using power and governance to uplift the poor, adding that such efforts were in line with the spirit of Jomo Kenyatta’s struggle to champion the welfare of the masses.
Kenyatta was Kenya’s first president and a key leader in the country’s independence movement, serving from 1964 until his death in 1978.
Anwar also emphasised that Malaysia and Kenya have no reason not to elevate their bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment.
He said Malaysia is ready to share its expertise in the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors, while also learning from Kenya’s rapid development and strong determination.
He said discussions between both countries would continue on Monday, covering trade, investment and broader economic cooperation during the leaders’ bilateral meeting.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, is accompanied by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, senior government officials and a business delegation.
Going clockwise, Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, Tanzania to the southwest, and Lake Victoria and Uganda to the west.
In 2024, Kenya emerged as Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with total trade reaching RM5.7 billion, an increase of 1.2 per cent from RM5.51 billion in the previous year.
Anwar is scheduled to depart Nairobi for Malaysia later today, concluding his three-nation tour of Africa.
