This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
On January 10, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted an invitation to become a champion of the African Union culture and arts program at State House, Mombasa.
The President received a special message from President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of Mali, who was recently elected to lead the continent's culture and arts agenda.
Receiving the special message, President Kenyatta underscored the importance of culture and the arts in cultivating unity and promoting continental integration.
He said the rich African culture and the arts could be harnessed as a vehicle to inculcate a positive attitude, instill patriotism, and create employment for the youth throughout the continent.
President Kenyatta expressed the need to also bring on board all Africans in the diaspora, including people of African descent spread across the globe.
“I am keen on promoting our culture, our rich African culture which is our identity and heritage. You can count on our support on this,” the President said.
He assured the special envoy that Kenya will provide two experts on culture to join the technical team charged with the responsibility of spearheading the implementation of the continent's cultural agenda.
President Kenyatta also expressed the need for Kenya and Mali to collaborate more closely in the fight against terrorism.
He sent a message of condolence to President Keïta and the people of Mali following a terrorist attack last November.
