On Monday, January 17, a section of Kenyans took to social media expressing concerns over loud blasts heard within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
Quickly, speculations arose on the cause of the blasts heard at around 11 a.m in the nation's capital, with some claiming that they were gunshots.
Kenyans.co.ke set out to debunk the speculations and has established that the loud blasts emanated from State House.
This follows the Reception of Hungarian President, János Áder, by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As protocol dictates, President Ader was accorded an elaborate State Reception that included a 21-Gun Salute.
During the salute, the officers fired cannons, a sign of military honor to the visiting president, who arrived in the country on Sunday, January 16, for a four-day State visit.
The Hungarian Head of State then proceeded to inspect a Guard of Honor mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Air Force.
Originating in the 17th century, the gun salute was used as a symbol of peace by war ships visiting foreign ports.
The ships were required to empty all its ammunition by firing all its cannons to indicate that they had no hostile intent. Initially, seven cannons were fired but the number increased to 21 over the years.
In the 18th century, the salute was adapted by most nations around the world as the official state salute.
