President William Ruto on Monday, May 20, 2024, mourned the demise of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi who was involved in a fatal plane crash while in the company of several other prominent leaders.
Giving a glowing tribute to the departed head of State, Ruto said Raisi was a fearless leader with a distinguished career in public service.
“In light of the tragic news of the passing of H.E. Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Foreign Minister, H.E. Hossein Abdollahian and his entourage of senior officials through a helicopter crash, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Iran at this challenging time,” Ruto said.
In June 2023, the late Raisi was in Kenya to sign several trade agreements between the two countries in agriculture, ICT, housing, culture and urban development.
“Kenya and the Republic of Iran share cordial relations signified by the fact that in his first-ever trip to the African Continent as President, H.E. Ebrahim Raisi chose Kenya as his first destination. As we condole with the people of Iran, we commend Allah’s mercy and comfort to the people of Iran,” Ruto added in the statement
During his visit to Kenya, Raisi revealed Iran’s intention to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian vehicles in the coastal town of Mombasa.
“Iran’s intention to set up a motor vehicle assembly plant in Mombasa to manufacture an indigenous Iranian vehicle that has been given the Kiswahili name – ‘Kifaru’. I reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fostering and protecting all investments in the country,” Ruto said during the visit.
The two presidents agreed to increase both tea and meat exports from Kenya while Iran promised to fund research in the blue economy of Kenya to improve the fisheries department.
Raisi’s death
Iran’s Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that “all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred”.
An Iranian official earlier told Reuters the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was completely burned in the crash on Sunday.
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