Israel deepens ties with Africa as PM meets 10 leaders at Uhuru's party

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, left, Ethiopia’s PM Hailemariam Desalegn and Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi on November 28, 2017. PHOTO | PSCU

He was the trophy guest that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta — facing questions on the credibility of the election that won him a second term in office — wished for.

Yet when it was confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attend President Kenyatta’s inauguration on November 28, the debate quickly turned to the closeness between the two leaders and Kenya’s strategic value to Africa.