Somalia-Kenya relations: Inside Hassan Sheikh's meeting with Ruto in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya - For the first time in his capacity as the president of Kenya, William Ruto on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was also given the mandate to lead the Horn of Africa nation three months ago.

During the State House discussion, the two leaders discussed in length the implementation of the Joint Commission for cooperation between the two countries, an idea which was mooted when Hassan Sheikh held a meeting with immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The cooperation, it's envisaged, would expedite the Khat (Miraa) trade between the two countries, which had been hampered by frosty relationship and tensions during the administration of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Also, the cooperation will seek to ease movement between the two countries along the porous border, which had triggered Kenya to temporarily close it down as a measure to regulate movement besides curbing the entry of Al-Shabaab militants.

"We will fast track the implementation of the Joint Commission for Cooperation between Kenya and Somalia. This will boost trade in Miraa and fish and ease movement between our two nations," Dr. Ruto, who had served as Deputy President for two terms, said.

Further, the two leaders discussed matters of security in the two countries with Somalia's subject addressed in depth. The country has been battling the resurgence of the militants in central and southern parts of the country, with the group killing dozens of innocent civilians.

"Held discussions with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that also included the security situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, State House, Nairobi, " added Ruto, who had recently told CNN that Somalia will be " responsible" for its own security.

Somalia had banned the importation of Kenya's Miraa making farmers from Mt Kenya suffer unimaginable losses but the situation was controlled after Hassan Sheikh signed a cooperation agreement with Uhuru in July. It's this cooperation that will be cemented.

On the security front, Kenya has been an indispensable partner in Somalia's fragile security, having dispatched over 3,500 Kenya Defense Forces troops to the country to tackle Al-Shabaab. The soldiers are currently working under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Somalia has heightened its offensive against Al-Shabaab, with the Somali National Army [SNA] announcing earlier this week that it has managed to liberate several villages in Hiiraan, Bay, and Galgaduud regions in the country which were previously under Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE