VATICAN: Pope Francis Meets President Uhuru, Discusses Kenya’s Role in Regional Peace and Security
Pope Francis and Kenya's President November 6, 2020
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Pope Francis on Friday, November 6, met Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Vatican and the two heads of State discussed among other issues the role of Kenya in regional peace and security “especially in South Sudan where His Holiness Pope Francis is personally involved.”
According to report “Kenya’s stature as a guarantor of regional peace and stability is set to rise in the coming months” as the country takes up its non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council in January 2021, a seat designated for African countries and which Kenya won mid this year, giving it a chance to speak on behalf of Africa to come up with reforms and policies that favour the African continent.
President Uhuru who is in Rome at the invitation of the Pope, is the first Kenyan head of State to visit the Vatican since Kenya established diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 1965.
The report further disclosed that prior to Uhuru’s arrival in Rome, Kenya’s envoy to the Vatican Prof Judi Wakhungu said the President’s “rare audience with the Holy Father signifies the high regard in which Pope Francis holds the Kenyan leader.”
She is quoted to have said, “This visit is extremely rare. The reason that it is rare is that it is not usual for the Holy Father to have an audience with just any Head of State. He values the role that our President is playing in very many aspects.”
Prof Wakhungu also said that Kenya is an attractive partner to the Holy See because of its impressive profile as a regional peacemaker and the country’s growing influence as it prepares to occupy its seat on the
UN Security Council.
Other discussions by the two Heads of State include mutual interest between Kenya and the Holy See among them education, health, regional peace and security as well as the fight against Covid-19.
Kenya’s envoy to the Vatican disclosed that President Uhuru and the Pontiff would also discuss Kenya’s response to Covid-19 especially the role that the Vatican is playing in assisting Kenya respond to the pandemic through its extensive network of health facilities in the country.
Additionally, post-Covid-19 economic recovery strategies as well as the deepening of the Catholic Church’s investment in Kenya’s education and training sector will also be discussed.
President Uhuru who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo was accorded a full Apostolic State reception upon arrival including a guard of honour mounted by the Swiss Guards.
On Saturday, November 7, Kenya’s President will pay a courtesy call on his Italian counterpart Sergio Materrela where they will discuss subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and Italy among them trade, investment, Kenya’s UN Security Council membership and the fight against Covid-19.
