First Lady Margaret Graces Kigali Marathon

W W W. K E N Y A H I G H C O M K I G A L I. O R G VOLUME VII JANUARY JUNE 2017 First Lady Margaret Graces Kigali Marathon Her Excellency, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta is received at the Airport by Kenya s High Commissioner, H.E John Mwangemi (not in the photo) and by the Rwandan Minister for Sports and Culture, Ms. Julienne Uwacu (seen in the photo), among other officials. H.E. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya and her host, Mrs. Jeanette Kagame, First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda, on 21 st May, 2017, ran the Kigali International Peace Marathon alongside thousands of athletes and peace enthusiasts from across the world, estimated at over 4,000 people from 35 countries. The First Ladies presided over the awards to the winners. H.E. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, who led a team of Kenyan athletes during the Peace marathon, flagged off the Half Marathon and On her arrival in Kigali, the Kenyan First Lady was received at the Kigali International airport by Kenya s High Commissioner, John Mwangemi and the Rwandan Minister for Sports and Culture, Ms. Julienne Uwacu, among other officials. Page 1

MESSAGE FROM H. E. JOHN MWANGEMI High Commissioner The Mission has had a busy schedule in the last six months. Several activities that have important ramifications on the bilateral relations of Kenya and Rwanda have taken place. Firstly, the Mission had the honour to facilitate a highly successful visit to Rwanda by H.E. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, when she visited Rwanda to participate in the Kigali International Peace Marathon on 21 st May, 2017. Secondly, Kenya High Commission, Kigali was selected as a Diaspora Voter Registration Centre to facilitate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the Republic of Kenya during the Voter Registration of Kenyans resident in Rwanda. In this regard, Voter Registration exercise was carried out at the Chancery/Mission premises for a period of two weeks beginning 20th February 2017 to 6th March 2017. Thereafter, Diaspora Voter Register Verification exercise was carried out at the Chancery/Mission premises for a period of two weeks beginning 15 th May, 2017. On diaspora diplomacy, the Mission is patron to an active Association of Kenyans in Rwanda (AKR) formed in 2007. The Mission and AKR maintain a substantive database of Kenyans in Rwanda who are about 2000 in number, and carries out an active outreach to this Diaspora on social media and other fora. The two entities work together to host Kenyan get-togethers and carry out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, such as fundraising and sponsorship for Rwandan schools and students. During Kenyan gatherings, most notably national days, various Institutions which have included Insurance, Real estate, educational and investment companies from Kenya have showcased their products to the Kenyan Diaspora in Rwanda and utilized this facilitation to expand their clientele. In this respect, the Mission, in collaboration with Optiven Ltd, Property Dealers and Developers organized a Diaspora Investment Forum which was held in June, 2017 with the aim of disseminating information on real estate properties available for sale by the company within Kenya. Among other important activities carried out by the Mission was the hosting of key Kenyan CEOs resident in Rwanda to a barbeque to discuss business and investment issues relevant to their operations in Rwanda with the aim of promoting investments that will create more jobs and wealth in line with the Government of Rwanda Vision 2020, while realizing the expected dividends for their organizations. This year, the Madaraka Day Anniversary hosted by the Mission was an opportune time for bringing Kenyans together to bond with one another as they approached the General Elections on 8 th August, 2017. Further, the Mission facilitated various Benchmark and official visits to Rwanda by members of the National and County Governments of Kenya. EDITORIAL BOARD H.E. John Mwangemi High Commissioner Dr. Florence Ochieng First Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission Mrs. Nancy Mwangi Second Counsellor, Trade

ABOVE: Her Excellency, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta is welcomed at the Hotel by officers from the Kenya High Commission, and presented with a bouquet of flowers by Ms. Irene Mwangi. ABOVE: H.E. Mrs Margaret Kenyatta and her host, H.E. Mrs. Jeanette Kagame are happily getting ready to run the 2017 Kigali International Peace Marathon.

ABOVE: H.E. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta and her host, H.E. Mrs. Jeanette Kagame running the 2017 Kigali International Peace Marathon that kicked off at Amahoro Stadium. Behind them in a grey cap and black T-shirt is the High Commissioner, Amb. John Mwangemi, accompanied by Mission staff. Kenya High Commission Kigali Selected As a Voter Registration and Verification Centre Kenya High Commission, Kigali, was selected as a Diaspora Voter Registration Centre to facilitate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the Republic of Kenya during the Voter Registration of Kenyans resident in Rwanda. ABOVE: Dr. Florence Ochieng, Deputy Head of Mission, introducing and inviting the IEBC officials, on behalf of H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi, to educate Kenyans on the voting process and carry out the voter registration exercise. In this regard, Voter Registration exercise was carried out at the Chancery/Mission premises for a period of two weeks beginning 20th February 2017 to 6th March 2017. The IEBC officials invited Kenyans for a briefing on the exercise and also provided lunch for them during the exercise. Thereafter, Diaspora Voter Register Verification exercise was carried out at the Chancery/Mission premises for a period of two weeks beginning 15 th May, 2017.

ABOVE: IEBC Officials carry out voter registration exercise for Kenyans. Optiven Diaspora Investment Forum The Mission, in collaboration with Optiven Ltd, Property Dealers and Developers organized a Diaspora Investment Forum which was held on 2 nd June, 2017 in Kigali Serena Hotel. Part of Team Kenya arrive at the sports venue The objective of the forum was to disseminate information on real estate properties available for sale by the company within Kenya. Participants were taken through a number of investment opportunities in the real estate sector but the focus was more on the Victoria Gardens Phase 3, a gated community estate in Kitengela. A significant number of the participants committed to purchasing the plots. Below are photographs taken during the event. ABOVE: The High Commissioner, H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi giving his welcome remarks at the Optiven forum

ABOVE: Participants look on as the High Commissioner, H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi gives his welcome remarks.

The Kenya High Commission in Kigali Hosts Jamhuri Day 2016 Celebrations On 3 rd June, 2017 the Mission organized a Family Cultural Day for the Kenyans living in Rwanda, which was held at the Carwash Restaruant grounds. This was held as part of Madaraka Day Anniversary. The objective of this event was to enable Kenyans to get together, share and network. Specifically the event aimed to achieve the following: Exchange and share the rich Kenyan culture and the advantage of the Kenyan diversity. Create cohesion among the different ethnic groups as Kenya approached the General Elections Enable the Kenyan children in Rwanda to interact and get to know each other. Sharing of Kenyan food. ABOVE: The High Commissioner, H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi with the Mission Staff and invited guests. ABOVE: Guests at the Madaraka Cultural Family Day event held at Carwash Restaruant grounds

ABOVE: Guests at the Madaraka Cultural Family Day event held at Carwash Restaruant grounds CEOs Barbecue Held at the Official Residence The CEOs barbeque was held on 16 th June, 2017 at the official residence. The barbeque was attended by about 25 key Kenyan CEOs in Rwanda most of which were drawn from the Kenyan institutions in Rwanda and a few from other institutions both international and local. ABOVE: Mr. Bonface Mutua, Chairman of the Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda welcomes the guests as Mr. Washing Oloo who is in charge of Diaspora Desk at the Ministry Headquarters (on Mutua s left) looks on. The objective of this barbeque was to bring together key business leaders to discuss business and investment issues that may be impacting on their operations in Rwanda while at the same time looking at ways of promoting investments that will create more jobs and wealth in line with the Government of Rwanda Vision 2020. The barbeque was also to help Kenyans connect and be able to do business together.

ABOVE: The High Commissioner, H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi, addresses the guests during the barbeque Kenya Mission Staff, AKR Participate in Umuganda One of the five pillars upon which Kenya Foreign Policy is anchored is Cultural Diplomacy. Cultural Diplomacy is very important in international relations as it ensures that culture contributes to science and technology, and socio-economic development. The fundamental practice of culture is the exchange and sharing of ideas, information, art, lifestyles, value systems, traditions, beliefs, languages and other aspects of cultures. Kenya High Commission, Kigali recognizes the important role that cultural diplomacy plays in promoting and pursuing Kenyan interests in Rwanda. In view of this, the Mission, in collaboration with Kenyans living in Rwanda, is actively engaged in activities that touch on Rwandan Culture. Umuganda is a monthly cleaning activity in Rwanda and it is undertaken every last Saturday of the month. The Rwandan people have made it part of their culture and its main objective is to keep Rwanda clean while at the same time maintaining the environment. The Mission, in recognition of this, facilitated with the organization and participated in the Umuganda cleaning exercise in developing an Eco Tourism Park in the Nyandugu sector on 23 rd June, 2017. LEFT: Mrs. Nancy Mwangi, Trader Officer (carrying soil) and Mr. Paul Mwangangi, Immigration Officer at the Umuganda held at Nyandugu, Rwanda on 23 rd June, 2017 with other Kenyans, wearing Kenya Ports Authority Tshirts and caps.

Meetings of the African Diplomatic Club (ADC) ABOVE: Members of the ADC during a meeting at the Uganda High Commission in Kigali. ABOVE: Members of the ADC (Nancy Mwangi and Lena Nyambu of Kenya High Commission in front) in a boat on the way to visit the Lake Kivu Methane Gas in Rwanda.

Farewell Party for a Colleague Following the successful end of tour of duty in Rwanda, Ms. Janet Mulamu, Administrative Attache at the Kenya High Commission, Kigali, left the country in this period. Below are photos taken during two farewell parties held in her honour. ABOVE: H.E. Amb. John Mwangemi, High Commissioner of Kenya to Rwanda, presents Janet with a gift on behalf of the Mission, during a farewell party held for her by the Mission at the Official Residence. ABOVE: Members of the African Diplomatic Club led by the Chairperson, Ms. Anne Katusiime, hosted a farewell dinner in honour of Ms. Janet Mulamu.

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