NAIROBI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Envoys from the European Union on Friday vowed to support Kenya in the ongoing purge against runaway corruption and the crackdown on counterfeit goods in the country.
The envoys led by Stephano Dejak, Head of EU Delegation to Kenya, encouraged President Uhuru Kenyatta for the sweeping crackdown on corruption and related economic crimes including proliferation of counterfeit goods in the country.
"The ambassadors said corruption and related economic crimes are a major hindrance to the growth of enterprises and expansion of the investment environment in the country," Kenyatta's office said in a statement issued after talks were held with the presidency in Nairobi.
The foreign envoys met Kenyatta ahead of the launch of a dialogue forum between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and European Union Business Council (EU-KEPSA forum).
They committed to increasing funding for Kenya's counter-terrorism activities, the Kenya Coast Guard service, value-chain addition in the blue economy and agribusiness programs to help demonstrate their commitment in deepening relations between Kenya and the EU.
The envoys from 18 EU member states also said they fully support Kenyatta's Big 4 development agenda and as a way forward, the bloc committed to deepening its partnership with the government in the development of skilled labor through technical and vocational education and training.
They said it is through technical and vocational training that the country can build adequate human resource capacity to enable the youth to engage in gainful employment.
On the EU-KEPSA forum, the envoys lauded Kenyatta for facilitating the dialogue, saying it will go a long way in enhancing mutually beneficial commercial ties between Kenya and the European Union.
"The dialogue we are holding today sends a strong message to the world of how much Kenya values its development partners," said Dejak.
During the meeting, Kenyatta said he will continue spearheading the war on corruption and welcomed the support of the EU in the struggle, saying his determination to restore integrity in the country will never be derailed.
He said the new pledges by the envoys will help fastrack the country's push toward attaining the middle-income economy status as envisioned in the nation's Vision 2030 development agenda.
"We are aware that there are those who are out working tirelessly to frustrate the process being undertaken to curb corruption so that we can go back to the old system. We will not be hoodwinked by their sideshows," the president said.
