President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin on October 24, held bilateral talks in abid to establish a Russia-Kenya business council to oversee the implementation of joint trade and investment programmes.
The two presidents, amid the bilateral talks, could not avoid walking down memory lane and talk about Kenya's independence struggle.
President Uhuru reiterated that Kenya's founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta drew inspiration and vision from the then, Soviet Union and that Russia played an unforgettable role in Africa’s struggle for liberation and independence.
“Africa’s aspiration for freedom and liberty is enriched by the relationship with Russia. African heroes including Kenya’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta drew from the vision of the Soviet Union," President Kenyatta reiterated.
President Putin reminisced on the historic friendly ties and noted the two nations shared similar values, adding that Russia was among the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with Kenya.
Putin highlighted the role Kenya's founding father and first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta played in the independence of Kenya and his relationship with Russia.
“First of all, I would like to note that the history of friendly ties between Russia and Kenya goes back to the day when Kenya gained independence, which was proclaimed by your father, former President Jomo Kenyatta," Putin recalled.
“And a day later, diplomatic ties were established, on December 12 and December 14, 1963, accordingly,” President Putin added.
