On 1st July 2022 during the 60th Independence Day Celebrations for Burundi held in Bujumbura, President Evariste Ndayisimiye conferred on President Uhuru Kenyatta, the National Order of the Republic of Burundi.
This is in recognition of his outstanding role in promoting peace, security and stability in Burundi and the great lakes region as a whole.
This is the highest honor of award conferred by the Head of State of Burundi to an individual.
The award together with the accompanying medal were received by the Kenyan Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi Ambassador Daniel Waisiko Wambura.
In recent years, Kenya and Burundi have developed very close diplomatic relations that are anchored on common values and aspirations for bilateral and regional cooperation and integration.
There is also shared prosperity within the East African Community; peace, security and stability within the great Lakes region.
In this regard, it is noted Kenya played an important role in supporting Burundi to join the East Africa Community in 2007 upon which Kenya opened her Embassy in Burundi.
The two countries’ bilateral cooperation has continued to grow in leaps and bounds as demonstrated by several events including the following:
Kenya’s sustained support and solidarity towards Burundi during the political crisis period;
The Government of Kenya successfully stood in solidarity with Burundi to campaign for removal of Burundi from the UNSC watch list.
President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Chairman of EAC was in the forefront to support Burundi in the campaigns against the sanctions by the EU and other development partners.
The sanctions have since been lifted by the EU and all other development partners.
It would be recalled that Kenya was among the first countries President Evariste Ndayishimiye undertook a State Visit to in his first year in office.
During the State Visit in June 2021 he was also the Chief Guest to Kenya ‘s 58th Independence day.
During the said State visit, the two countries renewed their commitment to upscale their scope of cooperation to a more strategic partnership by signing 8 instruments of bilateral cooperation in areas of socio-economic development of both countries;
Emanating from the State visit Kenya sent to Burundi 50 high yielding heifers that would assist in the development of Burundi’s livestock and dairy development,
Kenya is also offering scholarship to some Burundi students in livestock production and management,
Kenya is keen to continue collaborating with Burundi in technical support and capacity building in many areas of socio-economic development
The close bilateral cooperation has created enabling environment for improved economic cooperation and trade between the two countries.
Currently a number of Kenyan companies have gained a foothold in Burundian markets.
This includes the following: KCB that now operates six branches in Burundi; Kenya Airways that operates direct daily flights to Bujumbura; the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) offices on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Bujumbura; Jubilee Insurance Company plus two Private Universities namely the Summit University and Equator University owned by Kenyans.
The Government of Burundi has allocated to Kenya Government 3.5 acres of land for the construction of a Chancery in Bujumbura.
The two countries continue to exchange regular high level official visits to deepen their bilateral relations and cooperation.