Editor's Review

President Lourenço was to be the chief guest at the Mashujaa Day celebrations but failed to show up.

Angola president João Lourenço caught up with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto a day after the former failed to show up at the Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Lourenço had been slated to be the national event's chief guest at Kericho's Green Stadium; he missed but sent Angola Foreign Minister Antonio Tete to represent him.

The president's missing caused murmurs across various quarters which wondered why he would be a no-show at the event despite being in the country.

He met with Ruto at Nairobi State House on Saturday, October 21, as captured in the live pictures shared on social media by State House.

The KDF soldiers honoured him with a 21-gun salute befitting a visiting head of state; he would later inspect a military police parade mounted in his honour.

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The two presidents would later be captured in photos signing bilateral agreements.

President William Ruto with his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço at State House, Nairobi.

Ambassador Tete while addressing Kenyans in Kericho explained that Lourenço could not make it to the Kericho Green Stadium due to unforeseen reasons.

“On behalf of President Joao Lourenco, I would first like to convey his apologies he would have loved to be here but for unforeseen reasons, he couldn’t make it to Kericho. He sent you a very warm greeting thanking again for the warm reception we always have been granted whenever we come to Kenya,” said the Angolan Minister.

Tete went on to say it Kenya played a key role in Angola gaining independence as it benefited from the Mau Mau revolution.

“It is very emotional for the Angolan people to be here, especially on such a day, Heroes Day because we also have the same heroes who are not only Kenyan heroes but also African heroes and Angolan heroes. Many will remember how the struggle for independence of Angola benefited from the revolution of Maumau and others in Kenya,” he added.

President Laurenco arrived in Kenya on Thursday, October 19, and was received by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

He would be in Kenya for two days to hold bilateral talks with his host before returning to Luanda.