Kenya is cooperating with Israel to implement ambitious water harvesting and irrigation programme Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said.

Mr. Musyoka said that this is intended to ensure that Kenya achieves food sufficiency just like Israel which is largely a desert yet it is food net exporter.

He said Kenya is ready to work with Israel in order to revive the stalled Kibwezi irrigation scheme in Ukambani.

The Vice President was speaking at his Jogoo House office when he received the visiting Israel Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman who had paid him courtesy call.

Mr. Musyoka noted that several useful agreements have been signed between Kenya and Israel both in agriculture and health sectors including the construction of an emergency wing at the New Nyanza General Hospital in Kisumu.

The Israel Deputy Prime Minister lauded the existing cordial relations between Kenya and Israel, which he said dates back to 1963 at Kenya's attainment of independence.

He described the relations as the most stable in Africa.

Mr. Liberman said Israel's special interest in Kenya was in water harvesting and irrigation, noting that Israel had a wealth of knowledge in water harvesting and irrigation and was ready to share it with Kenya.

The Israel Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by 20 businessmen from Israel representing 20 companies which are ready to invest in Kenya in the area of water harvesting technology, irrigation and agro business.

Accompanying the Israel's Deputy Prime Minister included the Israel Ambassador to Kenya Jacob Keidar.Also present were the Assistant Minister for Cooperative Development Linah Jebii Kilimo and Secretary Cooperatives Daniel Maanzo.

Elsewhere, the Government of Israel has undertaken to support a farmer's organization in Dagoretti District to ensure food sufficiency through irrigation farming.

Mr. Liberman said his government was interested in supporting Rukubi  women self help group located in Kagondo village of Ruthimitu location in the district to enhance food security.

Liberman said his country was willing to transfer the technological know-how it has used to successfully overcome desertification.

He voiced his country's support for Kenya in various fields like agriculture, education and medicine saying it was meant to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations.

The Deputy PM promised the women group more funding in addition to the sh76 million given through a private firm Amiran Kenya Ltd. in form of a farmers' kit to boost their farming activities.

The Kit incorporates provision of high quality seeds, Agro-chemicals, soil nutrition through fertilizers, irrigation aid, among other components geared towards generating high yields for food security.

He made the remarks when he toured the 24 member organization's projects at Kagondo village  accompanied by Kenya's Ministry of Gender and Social Development Children Affairs Secretary Mr. Jasmine Odul and the area DC Mr. Cornelius Wamalwa among other leaders.