This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
On December 12, 2019, Kenya celebrated its 56th Jamhuri Day, with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley as the special guest.
President Uhuru Kenyatta led the occasion, accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, Surinamese Foreign Minister Pollack Beighle, and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Kenya and Barbados had previously agreed to expand areas of cooperation and create economic opportunities for citizens of both nations, as resolved on August 9, 2019.
During a meeting at State House, Prime Minister Mottley invited a financial sector delegation to Barbados to explore business opportunities in the Caribbean over the next two weeks.
She emphasized that having Kenyan financial firms operating in Barbados would serve as an anchor for Kenyan businesses, enabling them to trade in the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.
Barbados also expressed interest in establishing direct air and sea links with Kenya to boost trade between East Africa and the Caribbean.
The celebrations featured military parades by the three divisions of the Kenya Defence Forces – the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Trooping the Colour, a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies, was also part of the celebrations.
