PRESS STATEMENT

FIRST CABINET MEETING HELD ON 15TH JANUARY 2015

Today, 15th January, 2015, H.E. the President chaired the 1st Cabinet Meeting,
2015 at State House Nairobi.

During the meeting, Cabinet approved several major policy issues including the
following:
1) Aflatoxin Management in the Country; and
2) Deployment of Health Workers to assist in the control of Ebola outbreak
in West Africa.
3) The opening of Kenyan Embassies in Cuba and Angola

1. Aflatoxin Management in the Country;

Cabinet noted the Status of Aflatoxin Management in the Country and the
measures that have been taken to address the challenge.

Cabinet also noted that the country faces a number of challenges in post
harvest management of produce which include: unpredictable weather
patterns due to global climate change; poor and inadequate on-farm storage
structures; lack of appropriate post harvest technologies and facilities in the
rural areas; poor adoption of recommended crop post harvest technologies
among others.

Cabinet approved upscaling of interventions for Aflatoxin contamination

prevention and control in prone counties and a total of Kshs.1,051,089,500
to be spent over a span of two (2) financial years.

2. Deployment of Health Workers to assist in the control of Ebola outbreak

in West Africa.
Cabinet was briefed on the Governments deployment of health workers to
participate in Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak control and response in West
Africa.

The decision to deploy followed the Emergency Executive Council meeting of

the AU on Ebola held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 8 th 2014 in
which Kenya pledged a financial contribution of USD 1,000,000 to assist
Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea fight the EVD outbreak. Also, at the 10 th
ordinary meeting of the East African Community Sectoral Council of
Ministers for Health held on October 16th 2014, at the East African
Community (EAC) Headquarters, Arusha, partner states committed to
contribute a team of medical experts, health workers and funds to support
EVD containment in West Africa. In this regard, the Republic of Kenya
committed to contribute a team of 15 medical doctors and 300 other health
workers (medical epidemiologists, clinical officers, nurses and laboratory
technologists). This commitment was made in the spirit of African solidarity
and as part of the Kenyas international obligations.
.

3. The Opening of Kenyan Embassies in Angola and Cuba

Cabinet approved the opening of Kenyan Embassies in Angola and Cuba.

(i) Kenya and Cuba enjoy warm and friendly relations.

Cuba opened a

resident mission in Kenya in 2001.

Through the Joint Commission, Cuba has expressed her willingness to

collaborate with Kenya in various sectors including education, health,
biotechnology, trade and industry, sports, sugar processing, culture,
information and communication. Cabinet directed that Kenya establishes an
Embassy in Havana.

(ii) Cabinet noted that the opening of an Embassy in Luanda will solidify
Kenyas presence in the Southern Africa Region. The Mission will serve the
interests of Kenyans who are working, studying and transiting through
Angola, to other African countries, in particular, through the provision of
consular services. Cabinet therefore directed that Kenya establishes an
Embassy in Luanda.

Cabinet Office
Nairobi
END