Striking Similarities Between Uhuru and Macron of France

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace on Wednesday evening, September 30.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace on Wednesday evening, September 30.
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On Thursday, July 1, French President Emmanuel Macron received his Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Elysee Palace in the French capital of Paris.

Like previous times in the years 2020 and 2018, the two met to deliberate on economic moves meant to steer the country forward.

The two are more alike than you think and here are four of the most striking similarities.

1. Raised as Catholics

Kenya’s founding father Jomo Kenyatta was firmly rooted in Gikuyu customs and traditions. However, his fourth wife, Mama Ngina hailed from a Catholic family.

Uhuru was born and bred Catholic without his father objecting to it. His godfather, Mwai Kibaki, was also a staunch roman catholic, while his uncle, George Muhoho was a priest before he got permission from the Pope to resign in order to remarry. 

Macron, on the other hand, was baptized a Roman Catholic on his own volition at the young age of 12. This was despite being born in a non-religious family.

The French president has since dropped his roman catholic faith and identified as agnostic - people who neither believe nor deny God's existence. 

2.Youngest Presidents in their Countries

Uhuru is the youngest president in the history of Kenya having been first sworn in 2013 at the age of 51. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), he branded himself the “digital president”.

President Macron also happens to be the youngest head of state in the history of France. At the age of 39, he is the youngest French national leader since the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. Moreover, he is the first president of France born after establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958.

Uhuru and Macron at State House Nairobi.
Uhuru and Macron in a Kenyan-assembled Peugeot vehicle at State House, Nairobi in March 2019.
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3. Both Served in Ministries of Finance

Between 2004 and July 2007, Macron was the Inspector of Finance in the Inspectorate of General Finances (IGF).  His core functions included providing auditing and consulting services in administrative and economic matters.

Uhuru served as Kenya’s Minister for Finance from 2009 to 2011. He resigned from this position following his indictment in the case of the 2008 Post Election Violence (PEV).

4. Both Faced Presidential Elections in 2017

Uhuru was re-elected for his second and final term as the president of Kenya winning 54 percent of the popular vote. However, this was not without strife as the Supreme Court ordered the elections to be conducted afresh in 60 days of its ruling. This was because of a dispute raised by his competitor - ODM Leader Raila Odinga.

On  October 26, 2017, another election was conducted and he won once again, cementing legitimacy to serve his last term. He was sworn in on 28th November 2017.

Meanwhile in France, Macron was elected President of France with 66.1 percent of the popular vote on May 7th 2017. He secured this landslide victory after both the first and second rounds of voting with over eight million votes to boot.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his France counterpart Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace in Paris, France on Tuesday evening, September 30.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his France counterpart Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace in Paris, France on Tuesday evening, September 30.
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