By CISA
VATICAN CITY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020(CISA)-President Uhuru Kenyatta has kicked off his official Visit to Vatican City today November 6 with a meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican Palace.
“After the formal State reception ceremonies, President Kenyatta proceeded for a private audience with Pope Francis before leading the Kenyan delegation that included Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo for bilateral talks with their hosts led by Cardinal Bishop Pietro Parolin the Secretary of State of the Holy See,” reported the office of the president in Kenya.
According to the office of the president, the Kenyan delegation sought the Catholic Church’s enhanced participation in Kenya’s education, training and health sectors in support of the Government’s Big four agenda especially the ongoing roll out of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
“The two delegations discussed several subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and the Holy See among them education, health, regional peace and security as well as the fight against Covid-19,”the office of the president said.
Also discussed was Kenya’s role in regional peace and security especially in South Sudan where His Holiness Pope Francis is personally involved.
According to Kenya’s envoy to the Vatican Prof Judi Wakhungu, President Kenyatta and Pope Francis will discuss post-Covid-19 economic recovery strategies as well as the deepening of the Catholic Church’s investment in Kenya’s education and training sector.
At the Vatican, President Kenyatta, was taken on an extensive guided tour of the Holy City including the history-rich Papal Basilica of St Peter.
On the margins of the Vatican visit, President Kenyatta, who arrived in Italy on Thursday evening aboard a Kenya Airways aircraft, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on his Excellency Sergio Materrela, president of Italy on Saturday.
During President Kenyatta’s visit to Quirinal Palace in Rome, the two Heads of State are expected to discuss subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and Italy among them trade and investment, Kenya’s UN Security Council membership and the fight against Covid-19.
President Kenyatta, who is in Rome at the invitation of Pope Francis, is the first Kenyan Head of State to visit the Vatican.
