- The two high profile Britain leaders were visiting the country for the first time at the invitation of President Ruto.
- They arrived in the country on Monday night and began their official four-day visit on Tuesday which ended on Friday.
Image: PCS
The visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla this week was the hallmark of President William Ruto's diary.
The two high profile Britain leaders were visiting the country for the first time at the invitation of President Ruto.
They arrived in the country on Monday night and began their official four-day visit on Tuesday which ended on Friday.
With the King and Queen being in the country, the President's diary was not packed on the days he was in the country.
Image: PCS
On Monday, the President oversaw the beginning of the KCPE and KPSEA exams.
Ruto who was in Kikuyu Township Primary School, Kiambu urged the pupils sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations to do their best.
Passing a message of encouragement, the President told the students to remain confident as they entered the examination rooms.
"To all candidates who are doing this exam today, I wish you all the best and success in these exams. As you go into the exam room know that you are not alone so be confident, do your best," Ruto said on Monday.
On Tuesday, a grand reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla was staged at State House.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were being received in the country officially.
After the State House reception, the President and his guests proceeded to Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi.
At the entrance to the museum, Their Majesties viewed statues of Kenyan freedom fighters Dedan Kimathi and Mekatalili Wa Menza before being led down the Tunnel of Martyrs.
Here, former Director of Uhuru Gardens Brigadier Opiyo gave a moving account of the lives of those commemorated in the tunnel, including some of those who suffered ill-treatment and torture under the colonial administration.
“The visit enabled King Charles to deepen his understanding of the more painful parts of the UK and Kenya’s shared history,” read a statement from the British High Commission.
During the tour, the King and President Ruto also laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, dedicated to honouring all of those who have contributed to Kenya’s unity, peace and liberty, in the presence of members of the Kenyan Defence Forces and their families.
The two then proceeded to the soon-to-open National Museum, intended to tell Kenya’s proud history through Kenyan voices.
Ruto then led their Majesties in a visit to the Mugumo Tree on the site where the Kenyan flag was raised in the presence of the King’s father, the late Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The flag was hoisted to mark independence in 1963.
Later in the evening, President Ruto staged a State banquet in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla's visit.
“Your majesty, in this country, we have kingpins in different regions, and for that reason, I want to say that the contest is suspended because the real king is in the country,” Ruto said during the banquet.
The banquet had major surprises as it was attended by several senior government leaders, including opposition chief Raila Odinga.
On Wednesday, Ruto embarked on his five-day coastal tour of the region.
He first visited Kilifi to commission the Mwakirunge road in Rabai constituency before heading to Kwale on Thursday.
He then commissioned an electricity mini-grid at Wasini Island in Lunga Lunga before presiding over the groundbreaking and inspection of Shimoni fish port.
Image: PCS
On Thursday, the day began by reuniting with his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua after a week-long foreign trip.
The head of State then joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Mtongwe Naval Base.
Ruto later in the day, marked a milestone following the completion of the Buxton Point Affordable Housing Phase One, Mombasa.
The President also handed over 584 units to their new owners.
Ruto then presided over the groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the Buxton Point affordable housing project and the neighbouring Mzizima estate.
On Friday, the Head of State chaired his first cabinet meeting in State Hosue, Mombasa.
That was Ruto's first such meeting at State House, Mombasa since he became President last year.
The session in Mombasa marks the Administration’s fourth cabinet meeting held outside Nairobi.
All his cabinet Secretaries attended the meeting except for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and CS for Tourism Alfred Mutua.
The President with the First Lady joined the navy and other state officials at the Moi International Airport to see off King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
After the airport 'errand', Ruto presided over the Kenya Revenue Authority 2023 Tax Payers Day.
On Saturday, the President opened the Lamu East Technical and Vocational College.
Ruto said the college will equip the youth with technical competence to drive the country’s transformation agenda.
He was accompanied by Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) Aden Duale (Defence), Ezekiel Machogu(Education) Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, MPs and MCAs among other leaders.
On Sunday, the head of State will grace an Interdenominational thanksgiving prayer which has been planned for Mombasa.
The head of state will wrap up his tour with an inspection tour of the Baricho water supply project in Malindi and commission the last mile electricity connectivity project in Ganze.
He will also tour Kinango Technical Training Institute.