This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta made a historic visit to Jamaica, marking the first time a Kenyan President had set foot in the Caribbean country. The President was given a grand reception, complete with a military guard of honor, as he touched down in Kingston.
President Uhuru was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Ambassador Monica Juma, and other top state officials. The visit was a significant milestone in the relationship between Kenya and Jamaica, with both countries pledging to deepen bilateral and people-to-people ties.
During his visit, President Uhuru held bilateral talks with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, resulting in the signing of four agreements, including MoUs on technical cooperation in tourism, sports, culture, and heritage, as well as a framework of cooperation between the two governments.
President Kenyatta also expressed his desire for direct flights between the two countries, which he believed would boost tourism and increase interactions between Kenyans and Jamaicans.
"Our national carrier now has scheduled direct flights from Nairobi to New York, but we would like to see flights flying from the East Coast to the West Coast of Africa and directly to Jamaica, and through Jamaica to the rest of the Caribbean as a true way of deepening our partnership," President Kenyatta said.
