Havana, September 17 (Granma/RHC) – The East African nation of Kenya opened its Embassy in Havana on Friday. Dr. Monica K. Juma, Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs traveled to Cuba for the occasion.

Dra. Juma said during the opening that a diplomatic office in Cuba would contribute to expand bilateral links in fields like trade, education, culture, research and other areas of common interest.

"Cuba and Kenya are members of several international bodies, including the Non-Aligned Movement, and we hope to continue advancing an agenda of shared beliefs in development, security and world peace, the fight against terrorism, extremism and international organized crime, " she said.

The Kenyan Foreign Ministry’s principal secretary noted that 43 Kenyan students have completed university degrees in Cuba in various fields, such as medicine, architecture, engineering, agricultural sciences, and Humanities. She said currently there are six Kenyan undergraduate students taking courses in Cuba. “We want to further expand this cooperation,” she stressed.

Principal Secretary Monika K. Juma told Granma newspaper that President Uhuru Kenyatta is planning a visit to Cuba, an occasion during which she said issues like preventive healthcare, trade and investment, agriculture and the possibility of Kenya participating in the Havana International Fair in November will be discussed.

The Kenyan Embassy in Havana is the African nation’s second diplomatic office in Latin America, after Brazil. Cuba and Kenya established diplomatic relations in 1995.

A total of 24 African countries have embassies in Havana.