Kenyan girl, 10, lands Museveni's April holiday invite after presenting portrait gift

President Yoweri Museveni with 10-year-old Sheilah Sheldone (left) after she presented a gift to him. [Gideon Maundu, Standard]

A budding young Kenyan artist, Sheilah Sheldone Wednesday got a rare invite to visit Uganda during the April holidays after she presented visiting Ugandan Head of State, Yoweri Museveni with a portrait of the president.

President Museveni who jetted into Mombasa on a State visit Wednesday had checked in at the Nyali Golf View Residence (NGVR) when he was presented with the portrait of himself drawn by the 10-year-old girl.

Sheilah's mother, Sergeant Vivian Otieno from the Kenya Police Service who was together with her daughter confirmed that the Head of State had extended the invitation to the young girl.

'' Yes .It is true President Museveni accepted the gift and asked Sheilah to visit Uganda during the April holidays,'' the mother said.

At the NGVR which is Mombasa's latest accommodation attraction, Museveni who was accompanied by his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Sam Kuteesa, Ugandan High Commissioner to Kenya, Phibby Otala Awere and Consul General (Mombasa) Ambassador Katureeba Tayebwa and First daughter, Ms Natasha Karugire were received by Dr Simion Gicharu, chairman and proprietor of NGVR.

Sheilla is a gifted artist and despite her tender age her visual artworks are superb and top-notch, attracting the attention of many Kenyans.

Having started drawing at the age of six, Sheldone is untrained but artistically incomparable to her age-mates.

The girl who is currently a grade five pupil at Light International School is currently on a Presidential scholarship courtesy of President Uhuru Kenyatta who was moved by the young girl's drawing prowess and offered to educate her and her sibling.

She has in the past done various portraits.

The charming little girl does not only draw on canvas, but she is also a poet and a dancer, quite impressive of her age.

Among portraits she has sketched up include that President Uhuru of current Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, comedian Churchill Ndambuki among others.