London — King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom have expressed their deep appreciation for the warm and enduring relationship with Kenya during a reception held at Buckingham Palace.
The reception, hosted for the Kenyan diaspora, provided an opportunity for King Charles III to convey his confidence in fostering future partnerships with Kenya as the royal couple plans their upcoming visit to the East African nation.
"We look forward to our visit to Kenya, which presents a unique opportunity to strengthen our relationship with this remarkable nation and explore new avenues of cooperation and friendship," the King said.
The event saw the King and Queen extending a warm welcome to Kenyans from various sectors, including business, media, charity, art, sports, government, and the military. Additionally, representatives of organizations patronized by Their Majesties and operating within Kenya were present.
The evening was made all the more special with a musical performance by the acclaimed Kenyan guitarist, Shama, who is renowned for his 'music with a message,' addressing critical global issues such as climate change through his art.
This forthcoming visit to Kenya holds particular significance, as it marks the first visit by King Charles III to a Commonwealth nation since his ascension to the throne.
It coincides with Kenya's preparations to celebrate 60 years of independence, and King Charles III expressed his excitement at furthering the strong bond between the two nations.
Strengthening ties
The visit will encompass explorations of Nairobi City County, Mombasa County, and surrounding regions, with a focus on collaboration between Kenya and the United Kingdom in various areas, including mutual prosperity, climate change mitigation, youth empowerment, sustainable development, and regional stability.
While in Kenya, the royal couple will engage with President William Ruto, the First Lady, members of the Kenyan Government, and a wide spectrum of individuals, including UN staff, business leaders, faith representatives, youth leaders, and Kenyan Marines who are training alongside their counterparts from the UK Royal Marines.
The visit will also include a special event dedicated to honoring the life and contributions of the late Nobel Laureate, Professor Wangari Maathai, in collaboration with Wangari's daughter, Wanjira Mathai.
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The visit aims to underscore the deep and enduring connections between the British and Kenyan people, especially in fields such as the creative arts, technology, enterprise, education, and innovation. Additionally, it will acknowledge the complex aspects of the shared history between the UK and Kenya, including the period of the Emergency (1952-1960).
King Charles III is expected to utilize this visit as an opportunity to deepen his understanding of the challenges faced by the Kenyan people during this significant historical period.
