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Ruto’s Rabat envoy nominee Jessica Gakinya impresses vetting committee

The ambassadorial nominee to Rabat, Morocco, Jessica Muthoni Gakinya before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on April 8, 2024. (Photo: Mwangi Maina/EV)

By Mwangi Maina | Monday, April 8, 2024

Muthoni said her first step will be to encourage investors from the Kingdom of Morocco to establish a fertiliser factory in Kenya, facilitating easier access to essential agricultural products for Kenyan farmers.

Jessica Muthoni Gakinya, a former Business Development Manager at Safaricom on Monday showcased her qualifications before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations as an ambassadorial nominee to Rabat, Morocco.

A graduate of sociology and communications, Muthoni wowed the committee with a comprehensive introduction, emphasising her extensive relations-building experience.

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“I am not approving you but you’re the first nominee to appear having thoroughly researched and understood the intricacies of the host country,” committee chair Nelson Koech complemented Gakinya.

Gakinya, who previously served at the Kenya Fisheries Board, traced her upbringing in a lesser-known village in Embu County, where she was raised in a family involved in both teaching and farming.

She thanked the appointing authority “for giving her a chance to go represent Kenyan interests in Rabat”.

When asked by Baringo Central legislator Joshua Kandie about strategies to balance trade volumes, Gakinya responded, “There is significant potential for Kenya in Morocco.”

She emphasised, “The first step will be to encourage investors from the Kingdom of Morocco to establish a fertiliser factory in Kenya, facilitating easier access to essential agricultural products for Kenyan farmers.”

Second biggest exporter

Morocco is the second biggest exporter of fertiliser after China, largely thanks to its phosphate reserves which comprise 70 per cent of the world’s known reserves.

The ambassadorial nominee to Rabat, Morocco, Jessica Muthoni Gakinya before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on April 8, 2024. (Photo: Mwangi Maina/EV)

Phosphate is a main element in the manufacturing of phosphorous fertiliser.

Africa Intelligence last week reported that the keystone of the two countries' rapprochement is the construction of a fertiliser factory in Kenya, whose agricultural sector is one of Ruto’s top priorities.

OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the OCP Group is a Moroccan state-owned fertiliser entity and plays a key role in the African agricultural sector.

The entity maintains a Nairobi office that was established in May 2016 with an aim of improving the fertility and productivity of soils through the provision of the right fertiliser.

Morocco has an economic presence in Kenya, chiefly via Attijariwafa Bank, a Moroccan multinational commercial bank and the Bank of Africa, and it hopes the fertiliser plant will strengthen its foothold in East Africa and Kenya in particular, which suffers from a shortage of fertiliser.

The opening of a full-fledged diplomatic mission in Rabat has been completed, signalling a total turn from previous government stances in bilateral ties between the two countries.

Establishing an embassy in Morocco means Kenya will take its diplomatic presence in the country from an honorary consulate which was headed by Ali Bajaber, a Kenyan national to a full embassy with a resident ambassador.

Gakinya added, “Morocco has a large population that consumes tea and coffee, and Kenya is a major producer of both in East Africa.”

She stated her intention to explore opportunities to tap into the Moroccan market for green tea and coffee.

“Morocco's population also takes coffee. They get their coffee from Indonesia and Vietnam, and with the AfCFTA, I will encourage very much if approved for Morocco to source their coffee from Kenya,” said the nominee.