Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on November 24, 2025, honoured Kenya’s fallen heroes with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The ceremony, held during his official state visit to Kenya, underscored the strengthening diplomatic and military relations between the two nations.
Anwar, who arrived in Nairobi on November 23 for a three-day tour, was accorded full state honours including a red-carpet welcome, military parade, and a 21-gun salute by the Kenya Navy at State House.
President William Ruto received him upon arrival, marking the beginning of a high-level engagement between the two governments.
At Uhuru Gardens, the Malaysian leader was escorted by Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, and received by Kenya Army Commander Lieutenant General David Ketter.
He laid a wreath at the tomb before observing a minute of silence in memory of Kenyan soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
The gesture symbolised respect for Kenya’s history and highlighted growing solidarity between the two countries’ defence forces.
The ceremony formed part of a wider diplomatic programme aimed at deepening collaboration across multiple sectors.
Earlier, Prime Minister Anwar held bilateral talks with President Ruto in Nairobi.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding touching on tourism and city-to-city cooperation, including an agreement between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Nairobi City County government.
Their discussions further explored cooperation in trade, technology, education, and economic development.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Anwar noted that Malaysia’s engagement with Kenya has evolved into a strategic partnership that goes beyond traditional sectors such as agriculture.
He pointed to emerging opportunities in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and university-led research as key pillars of future cooperation.
President Ruto, for his part, reiterated Kenya’s commitment to lowering tariff barriers and expanding trade flows to boost digital economy initiatives and investments in high-tech manufacturing.
He also welcomed Malaysia’s interest in Kenya’s development programmes.
Anwar praised Kenya’s poverty-alleviation and affordable housing agenda, describing the country’s mass housing efforts as an example of inclusive development.
He affirmed Malaysia’s readiness to share its technical expertise in housing delivery and related solutions.
The Malaysian Prime Minister is also expected to deliver a keynote address at the Malaysia–Africa Higher Education Forum and preside over a business forum bringing together about 200 representatives from both nations.
For both governments, the wreath-laying at Uhuru Gardens was more than a ceremonial tradition.
It reflected shared
respect, Kenya’s enduring historical legacy, and a maturing partnership as the
two nations pursue a more collaborative and forward-looking relationship.
