Radio Erena: December 12, 2013
About 20 heads of state are expected to attend the Kenya jubilee celebrations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hired 50 limousines to ferry the foreign dignitaries.
More than 200 other top-of-the-range cars have been reassigned from government ministries and state corporations to ferry the guests.
High ranking officials
By Wednesday night, 16 leaders had confirmed their attendance, the Foreign Affairs ministry said.
Six presidents and prime ministers will be represented by special envoys while 12 others, including the US, would be represented by high ranking officials.
Kenya’s former coloniser, the United Kingdom, has delegated Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds while President Barack Obama would represented by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Among those expected are Isaias Afwerki (Eritrea), Lt-Gen Ian Khama (Botswana), Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi), Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Joseph Kabila (DR Congo), Ali Bongo (Gabon), Joyce Banda (Malawi), Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria) and Mohamed Abdelaziz (Sahrawi Arab Republic).
Others are Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka), Ikililou Dhoinine (Comoros) and Prime Ministers Hage Geingob (Namibia), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), Pierre Damien Habumuremyi (Rwanda) and Aminata Touré (Senegal).
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir are not listed as guests but Harare will be represented by its High Commissioner to Kenya.
Over 50 other high ranking guests from around the world are also expected at the event to represent their countries at Kenya’s biggest national celebration.
Germany has send her G8 Personal Representative for Africa Mr. Günter Nooke while Russia has delegated Mikhail Margelov (Special Representative of the President for Africa and Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on International Affairs) while Spain has dispatched Manuel Gómez-Acebo (Assistant Secretary of State for Africa) to represent it.
Former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo and billionaire Alico Dangote-the President of Dangote group are also listed by protocol among the distinguished guests invited by the State expected at the event.
Accreditation for the event was strict with top security agencies involved in the event thoroughly vetted by the National Intelligence Service officials.
Kenyan MPs including senators were Wednesday instructed to pick their invitation cards for the event at parliament buildings and warned that there would be no admission without the cards.
“Mheshimiwa, Invitation cards for the hoisting of the flag by H.E the President on Wednesday at Uhuru gardens and those Kenya @50 to be held on Thursday at Kasarani are ready for collection at the main reception parliament buildings.
No admission to the two venues without the cards,” read a message send to MPs by Leader of Majority Aden Duale.
Source: Daily Nation
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