President Uhuru Kenyatta is winding his Caribbean tour at Bridgetown, Barbados, where famous American popstar Rihanna Robyn was born and raised before moving to America.
Uhuru had earlier visited Kingston, Jamaica, where besides discussing bilateral agreements with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, he visited the grave of his Reggae music star Bob Marley.
President Kenyatta, accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, were on Wednesday received at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown, Barbados by Prime Minister Mia Mottley. The President was accorded a full state reception, complete with a 21-gun salute.
The President’s arrival in Barbados marks the second and last leg of his Caribbean visit that started in Jamaica where he witnessed the signing of four agreements to deepen bilateral and people-to-people ties for the benefit of the two countries.
On Wednesday evening, Uhuru expressed the need for Kenya and the Caribbean island state of Barbados to scale up their bilateral engagement for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
While welcoming President Kenyatta to Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, the Governor General of Barbados said Kenya and Barbados share similar views on major issues such as climate change and the importance of sustainable development of the blue economy.
The Bridgetown trip marks Uhuru's third ever trip to the Caribbean. He first visited the region in 2016 where he opened a Kenyan embassy in Havana, Cuba. Jamaican visit was second.
Besides music, Caribbean countries are known for short distance races in IAAF and Olympics. They have also rich history when it comes to struggle for independence in Africa.
While Barbados has strong ties with America, the country is largely independent, the reason why Uhuru was given 21-gun salute as the Head of State from Kenya.