Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday, October 24 hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark Kenya’s 60th Independence Anniversary ahead of their State Visit.
This is the first reception for a Commonwealth nation King Charles III has held since he ascended to the throne in 2022.
The glittering high-profile event was attended by Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu who represented the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and High Commissioner of Kenya to the UK Ambassador Manoah Esipisu.
The event was also attended by some 400 Kenyans and Friends of Kenya drawn from charities active in Kenya, Pharmaceuticals, the Arts and entertainment, education and research, fintech, health and care, hospitality and tourism, investors focused on East Africa and particularly Kenya, and diplomats.
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PS Njogu thanked their Majesties for holding the reception to celebrate Kenya’s independence saying it is a first-of-its-kind event.
"We commend Their Majesties the King and Queen for recognising and honouring Kenya's diaspora community for their positive contributions in a first-of-its-kind event. We are also proud of the exemplary and trend-setting work and effort in fostering people-to-people relations between the two countries by Kenyans in the United Kingdom," she said.
Esipisu on his part observed that the event was a huge moment for Kenyans living in the UK ahead of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit.
"This was a huge moment for Kenyans in the UK ahead of the Royal Visit, a moment that attests to Kenya's significant influence with the UK and our strong bilateral relations," commented High Commissioner Esipisu.
Their Majesties are scheduled to visit Kenya from October 31st to November 3rd at the invitation of President William Ruto.
The King and Queen will visit Nairobi City County, Mombasa County, and surrounding areas. Their Majesties' program will reflect the ways in which Kenya and the United Kingdom are working together, notably to boost mutual prosperity, tackle climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development, and create a more stable and secure region.
President Ruto on Monday, October 23 held a meeting with British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan at State House ahead of the Royal visit.
The Head of State is expected to hold bilateral talks with the King focusing on climate action, biodiversity, sustainable urban development, youth, technology and innovation, and women empowerment.
Key projects expected to be discussed include the KES 425 billion Grand High Falls Dam project, the KES 12.5 billion Menengai Geothermal project, and the KES 7.5 billion Malindi Solar Expansion project.
Others are the KES 11.5 billion Nairobi Railway City project, the KES 31 United Green investment, and the recruitment of Kenyan Nurses to the United Kingdom.
