Kenya has promised the landlocked African nation of Rwanda that it will help in overcoming its transport and communications problems. Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi, made the pledge at a dinner on Thursday (1 February), in honour of the visiting Rwanda President, Juvenal Habyarimana.

SYNOPSIS: President Habyarimana arrived in Nairobi earlier on Thursday to be greeted by President Moi at the start of a four-day state visit, the first ever by a head of state from Rwanda. Traditionally Rwanda -- a former Belgian colony west of Kenya -- has had ties with other French-speaking African nations. Before going on to a private lunch in the capital, the two Presidents were entertained by a military band at Jomo Kenyatta airport, named after the late Kenyan leader.

President Moi told his guest that Kenya was well aware of Rwanda's transport problems. He said that facilities at the port of Mombasa as well as Kenya's roads and railways, were available to help move Rwanda's exports and imports.

During the visit, President Habyarimana was due to tour a number of factories, and lay a wreath on the grave of the late President Kenyatta.

He was also planning to look at some farming projects and pay a visit to a game park, near Mombasa.

In a speech at Thursday's state dinner, President Habyarimana made an appeal to other African nations to dedicate the coming year to the struggle against colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.

Both Presidents also called on other African countries to respect territorial boundaries. They said border disputes were hampering the development of the continent. President Habyarimana, a former army general, took power in a coup five years after a rift between northerners and southerners in the government. The country has been ruled by a military regime ever since.