President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Thursday honoured by Burundi for promoting peace and stability in the country and the Great Lakes region.
The award was conferred on the President by Burudian President Evariste Ndayishimiye at State House, Nairobi during Burundi’s 60th Independence Day celebrations held on July 1 in Bujumburu.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Burundi, Daniel Wambura, received the award on behalf of Uhuru and presented it to him on Thursday.
The National Order of the Republic of Burundi is the highest award of honour in the East African nation.
Uhuru was honoured for the outstanding role he played in promoting peace, security and stability in Burundi during the political crisis in 2015.
“The important role the Government of Kenya played in successfully campaigning for the removal of Burundi from the United Nations Security Council watch list,” said part of the citation.
The award also recognized Uhuru as a personal support, engagement and solidarity in successfully campaigning to have the sanctions imposed on Burundi by the European Union and other development partners lifted.
Kenya and Burundi signed several agreements in May 2021 aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two East African countries.
Uhuru and Ndayishimiye said that they will work together in advancing the African agenda on the global stage, and reiterated their countries commitment to the progress of the East African Community (EAC).
“On regional cooperation, we exchanged views on various development matters in the East African Community (EAC); and reaffirmed our commitment to continue working together in championing the EAC integration agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063,"Uhuru said.
"International cooperation, we reiterated our commitment to continue working closely at the level of the United Nations (UN), with a view to advancing the Common African Agenda for Integration and Sustainable Development,” he added.
