Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday departed for Kenya on a 3-day state tour where he will join his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta for significant bilateral talks.
President Buhari will also join other dignitaries at a memorial service for Kenyan soldiers who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
This will be the President’s second international trip this year.
Kenya’s State House announced that bilateral trade talks and counter-terrorism talks will dominate the visit.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt will also visit Kenya around that time.
State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said Buhari’s visit is expected to strengthen several agreements signed previously and boost business interactions.
The both countries have always had strong relations and the visit by the Nigerian leader of the nation will seek to build on them and enhance the two nations, which are major partners in several sectors.
“Nigeria has always been a friend to Kenya and this visit will simply enhance the strong relations we share,” State House spokesman, Esipisu said in a statement.
“Both countries will consider how best to improve mutual trade and review strategies for improving regional security,” he added.
Kenya and Nigeria have signed several agreements, the most recent being three, confirmed during Uhuru’s state visit to Nigeria in May 2014.
Two agreements on trade and agricultural cooperation lay the foundation for business people from Kenya and Nigeria.
The third agreement was on immigration matters and sought to ease the movement of people between the two countries.
He will then proceed to Nairobi on Thursday for bilateral talks with Kenyan government officials.
At the conclusion of his visit, President Buhari and President Kenyatta will jointly preside over a Kenya-Nigeria Business Forum.
