Amir Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone call with Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya Raychelle Omamo.

Referring to the progress in the process of holding a joint commission of the two countries, he stressed the importance of relations with Africa, especially Kenya.

He also stressed the need for creating synergy between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Kenya on some common threats in the international arena, such as terrorism and piracy.

He stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in regional and international bodies, noting that there is great potential for expanding relations in all fields, including trade and the private sector between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Omamo emphasized the important position of Iran, called for the developing relations between the two countries and expressed hope that the holding of the joint economic commission would develop Tehran-Nairobi relations.

She emphasized developing cooperation between the two sides in regional and international bodies is emphasized as much as possible.

The two sides reviewed the latest developments in the negotiations for the lifting sanctions and the issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency. APO

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) says 1,912 people have lost their lives to road accidents from January to May this year.

Speaking to the Star, NTSA Deputy Director Road Safety Duncan Kibogong said this is an increase of 9 percent of total fatalities on Kenyan roads as compared to a similar period last year where a total of 1754 road users lost their lives.

Kibogong said the increase in road accidents could be attributed to high levels of lawlessness among road users.

“Up to 80 percent of causes of road traffic injuries is because of behavioural aspects, how we behave on the roads," said Kibogong.

Kibogong also noted that motorists found flaunting traffic rules, particularly when on campaign trails will have their licenses revoked.

“We will not allow motorists to disobey traffic rules, people hanging on vehicles dangerously, excess passengers, motorcycles hooting and riding at high speeds. We have increased surveillance and we will have those particular ones arrested and arraigned,” Kibogong said.

He at the same time asked Kenyans to exercise caution on the roads and refrain from being excited about the political rallies which can make them lose their lives at any particular time.

This comes barely a day after Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna issued a statement saying that they are worried about the high level of lawlessness exhibited by motorists and bodaboda riders when on the campaign trails.

Kibogong also revealed the NTSA in collaboration with the government and Kenya Roads Board among other stakeholders will organize a “National technical stakeholders conference” in Mombasa starting from  June 7 to 9 this year to combat the rising cases of road accidents across the country.

Among key issues that will be deliberated on include; improving road safety and identification of measures that can be used to save lives in cases of accidents.

Kibogong said this will be followed by a series of road safety campaigns across the country as they seek to reduce road fatalities by 50 percent in 2030. - WANGUI MWANGI, The Star

By JULIUS MBALUTO

Queen Elizabeth 11 become the Queen of England while she was in Kenya. She had gone to Kenya with her late husband Prince Philip to stand in for George VI who was too ill to travel.

They stayed at the Treetops Hotel, 160 kms from Nairobi, watching baboons play when on the 6^th February 1952, the Princess was informed of her father George V1’ s death. Upon the death of her father, the Princess became the Queen of England. 

Writing on her experience the British hunter Jim Corbett, who was also staying at Treetops at the time, later wrote the now famous lines in the visitors' logbook: 

"For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl climbed into a tree one day a Princess and after having what she described as her most thrilling experience she climbed down from the tree next day a Queen." 

When Kenya gained attained its independence on 12^th December 1963, It became a constitutional monarchy thereby remaining under the Queen’s rulership through her proxy The Governor - General in Kenya. However, on 01^st June 1994, Kenya became an independent state and a republic. 

The queen today celebrates Platinum Jubilee having been the longest serving or reigning monarchy. She has been in power for 70 years.