This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
December 23, 2019, marked a significant day for Juvenal Shiundu, a Kenyan who has spent two decades working at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of London, a rare honour bestowed on individuals of global standing.
According to his daughter Arnolda Shiundu, who shared the news on his Twitter handle, Mr Shiundu is the second Kenyan to receive this distinction. Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Princess Diana, Winston Churchill, and President Theodore Roosevelt.
As the Director of the Technical Cooperation Division, Mr Shiundu has played a crucial role in IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme, assisting member states with capacity building and human development.
The IMO is a specialized UN agency responsible for improving the safety and security of international shipping and preventing marine pollution from ships.
Mr Shiundu is set to retire from the IMO on December 31, 2019, after 22 years of service, during which he rose through the ranks to his current position.
Earlier this afternoon, my dad @JJshiundu was awarded the Freedom of the City of London. He is the second Kenyan to receive the honour, whose past recipients include; Nelson Mandela & Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Late Princess Diana, Winston Churchill, President Theodore Roosevelt. pic.twitter.com/AlzYVpQhfO — Arnolda Shiundu (@ArnoldaShiundu) December 23, 2019
