Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the International Relations Friendship City topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Palo Alto signs Friendship City agreement with Narok County, Kenya
Summary
Palo Alto officials and local nonprofit Neighbors Abroad signed a ceremonial Friendship City agreement with Narok County, Kenya, to establish cultural and development ties; Narok representatives plan a West Coast visit in May.
Palo Alto and a delegation from Narok County in Kenya marked the city—s first formal Friendship City agreement in a ceremonial signing on April 21.
Neighbors Abroad, a local nonprofit that organizes international partnerships, introduced Narok representatives and described longstanding ties. "This is a historic relationship," said Barb Macrez, a longtime Neighbors Abroad volunteer and founder of Olive Seed Foundation, which partners with community groups in the Masai Mara region.
Amos Kapin, a community organizer and Olive Seed Kenya cofounder, brought greetings from Narok and spoke about local priorities including education, women—s empowerment, clean water and sustainable development. Kapin said Narok—s governor had planned to attend but was delayed; the governor is scheduled for a West Coast visit May 25-30 and intends to meet Palo Alto officials.
Mayor Laowing and councilmembers participated in the signing and posed for photographs with the Narok delegation. Councilmembers offered brief comments of welcome; Councilmember Lythcott Haines noted personal experience visiting the Maasai Mara and praised community-to-community ties.
The ceremony was ceremonial in nature; no binding contracts or funding commitments were announced during the event. City staff and Neighbors Abroad said the partnership is intended to support cultural exchange, educational programming and informal development collaboration over time.
