Kenya and South Sudan have renewed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation in key sectors including trade, infrastructure, education, and capacity building, following a bilateral meeting between the Kenya–South Sudan Liaison Office (KESSULO) and the Embassy of South Sudan in Nairobi.
Led by Secretary Major (Rtd.) Abel Rotich, the KESSULO team congratulated Ambassador Antony Kon, South Sudan’s Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat and an alumnus of KESSULO’s 2012 training programme on his recent appointment as Ambassador to Kenya.
Rotich underscored Kenya’s historic role in South Sudan’s transition to independence, noting that KESSULO, domiciled in the Executive Office of the President, has trained more than 8,600 South Sudanese professionals since 2005 and continues to strengthen governance, diplomacy, and institutional capacity.
“KESSULO’s work goes beyond diplomacy; it’s about building the systems that sustain peace and prosperity,” said Rotich.
He announced that scholarships for South Sudanese students in Kenya are being considered under KESSULO’s restructuring plan, which was recently bolstered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) formally recognising the office as an institution with expanded diplomatic reach.
Ambassador Kon praised Kenya’s pivotal role in South Sudan’s independence journey while urging for greater collaboration in trade, education, petroleum, and wildlife conservation. He called for scholarships, vocational training opportunities, and improved welfare for South Sudanese students and refugees in Kenya.
The envoy further pushed for the removal of trade barriers and high import costs, encouraging Kenyans to invest in South Sudan.
“Kenyans are not fully aware of the immense opportunities in South Sudan. A joint trade fair would help showcase what both countries have to offer,” he said.
Kon revealed that 270 South Sudanese companies are already registered in Kenya and proposed a new MoU between the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to drive cross-border business partnerships.
Discussions also explored joint infrastructure projects, petroleum trade integration, financial linkages, tourism, and the creation of a cross-border wildlife circuit through the Lokichogio corridor to boost trade and tourism.
Also present were Evans Rioba, Head of Planning in the Office of the Head of Public Service, and Jacqueline N. Chole, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of Economic Trade, Investment and Tourism at the Embassy of South Sudan.
By Jacqueline Adyang (PCO)
