Uhuru’s grand reception in Jamaica

President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Monday received by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Governor General Patrick Allen of Jamaica in a colourful state reception that included a Guard of Honour mounted by the Jamaica Defence Forces and a 21-gun salute upon his landing in Kingston.

The President, who is accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, CSs Monica Juma, Amina Mohamed and Najib Balala, is among a new generation of African leaders who are promoting Pan-Africanism and integration to push for the prosperity of all Africans

Kenya and Jamaica have pledged to deepen bilateral and people-to-people ties, a commitment that came as President Uhuru Kenyatta held bilateral talks with his host Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday afternoon in Kingston Jamaica.


During the meeting, plans to introduce air transport connections between Kenya and Jamaica were discussed, with President Kenyatta noting that encouraging more trade and deepening commercial ties will strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of MoUs on technical cooperation in tourism and in the fields of sports, culture and heritage as well as a framework of cooperation between the two governments and an MoU on political consultations.

As part of the deals that were signed between Kenya and Jamaica, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center which is based at the University of West Indies will open its first satellite centre in Nairobi and will be based at the University of Nairobi.


During a joint press briefing between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the President pointed out that Kenya serves as a hub for logistics and transport, financial services, ICT innovations, as he encouraged Jamaican investors to come to Kenya.

The two leaders also noted that there was need to strengthen cooperation between Kenya and Jamaica in the blue economy which they said holds tremendous potential for wealth and job creation.

In the area of sports, the two leaders said Kenya and Jamaica will cooperate in sports development especially in athletics, a sport in which the two counties are global icons with Kenya leading in medium and long distances while Jamaica being a leader in short distance running.