Iran president's visit to Kenya moved to Wednesday

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Kenya which was scheduled for Tuesday has been rescheduled.

Raisi was set to arrive in the country for a State visit for bilateral talks with President William Ruto to review and re-energize the two countries' relations.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Iranian leader’s schedule was reviewed to allow for the finalisation of key MoUs central to the furtherance of relations. Raisi is now set to arrive on Wednesday.

“The President will be at State House at 7.00 am tomorrow for a bilateral meeting. He will, thereafter, proceed to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta before proceeding to tour other African countries,” read a communiqué issued Tuesday.

Raisi’s rare Africa tour is part of Iran’s latest diplomatic efforts to reduce the Islamic nation's isolation by forging new alliances.

The three-day trip also includes Uganda and Zimbabwe and will be the first by an Iranian president to Africa in 11 years.

Raisi will head a delegation that includes Iran's foreign minister as well as senior businesspeople. He is scheduled to meet with presidents from the three countries, according to the official IRNA news agency.

On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani described the trip as "a new turning point" which could bolster economic and trade ties with African nations.

He also said the rapprochement is based "on common political views" between Tehran and the three African countries.

Iran has stepped up its diplomacy in recent months to reduce its isolation and offset the impact of crippling sanctions reimposed since the 2018 withdrawal of the United States from a painstakingly negotiated nuclear deal.