Gachagua Represents Ruto In Global Forum In Belgium

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has departed the country for Belgium on a three-day official visit.

According to a statement released by Gachagua's office on Monday, October 23, the Deputy President will represent President William Ruto at the Global Gateway Forum hosted by the European Commission in the Capital, Brussels.

"The Forum aims to strengthen relations between the European Union (EU) and its partners, including Kenya, in key sectors such as digital innovation, green energy, transport, healthcare and education," the statement read in part.

"On the sidelines, the Deputy President will hold talks with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on boosting bilateral ties between Kenya and the EU."

The two-day forum will bring together over 40 high-level government representatives from the EU and its partner countries, financial institutions, the private sector, civil societies, and international organisations.

As part of his efforts to seek a better market for Kenyan coffee, the Deputy President will engage various actors.

This comes after Gachagua revealed on Sunday, October 22 that the Kenyan government is working on a deal with American coffee chain Starbucks through the US Ambassador to Kenya that will allow the multinational to buy coffee directly from Kenyan farmers.

Gachagua will also meet with Kenyans living in Belgium, at the Tangla Hotel in Brussels.

"The Deputy President will extend his travel to Germany for other engagements on Coffee, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy, among others," added the statement.

"Gachagua will also meet the Kenyan Diaspora in Germany, at The Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich."

On Friday, October 13, Gachagua revealed details of his new foreign travel agreement with President Ruto after criticism emerged on why they were outside the country at the same time.

Speaking during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) women's congress, Gachagua revealed that the two Kenya Kwanza government leaders agreed to not travel outside the country simultaneously.

"You want me to be in charge (when Ruto is away). There was a time when we were abroad, and the people we left behind misbehaved.

"We have now agreed that when he has travelled on a foreign tour, I remain in the country, and when he returns, I leave. And there is no problem," he stated to the delight and applause of the delegates. 

Both Ruto and Gachagua as well as Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi were out of the country in September when the the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced that the prices of Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene fuels surpassed the Ksh200 mark.