NAIROBI: China has given Kenya Sh162 million to help in the repartriation of refugees from the Dadaab camp in Garissa.
The money is part of Sh1.7 billion the country has given Kenya for the construction of a Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi and the rehabilitation of Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.
Treasury CS Henry Rotich said the money for refugees would address the challenges of food, clothing and shelter at the camp. The camp is home to more than 350,000 people, most of whom come from war torn-Somalia.
“Resource conflicts at the camp will be greatly reduced and the security threats arising from some of these disputes will also be dealt with when some refugees are sent back home,” Mr Rotich said.
Cumulatively, Kenya has received Sh488.82 billion from China since the beginning of the bilateral co-operation in 1964. China’s ambassador to Kenya, Liu Xianfa, yesterday said the signing of the exchange of notes for provision of grants would deepen the cooperation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Kenyans working in the Netherlands will no longer pay income tax in the two countries after an agreement was reached to eliminate double taxation.
Kenya has been in talks with the Netherlands since 2010 to have the tax done away with and it was only yesterday that a decision was reached and an agreement signed. Mr Rotich said the elimination of the tax would encourage investment and trade between the two countries.
“It will also curb the problem of tax evasion as information will be shared freely between authorities in the two countries,” he said after signing the agreement with the Dutch ambassador to Kenya, Joost Reintjes.
Kenya mainly exports horticultural products to the European country. Last year’s exports to the Netherlands were valued at Sh40.6 billion against imports of Sh18.8 billion.
