Suluhu accorded a 21 gun salute in Kenya, inspects guard of honour mounted by KDF

By James Macharia

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday morning arrived in the country and was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Racheal Omamo.

Later, she was driven to State House Nairobi where President Uhuru Kenyatta received her in the company of several government officials and Cabinet Secretaries.

The visiting head of state was accorded a befitting reception inclusive of inspecting a gurad of honor mounted by the Kenya Defence Forces and a 21 gun salute.

A 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognized of the customary gun salutes that are performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honor.

As naval customs evolved, 21 guns came to be fired for heads of state, or in exceptional circumstances for heads of government, with the number decreasing with the rank of the recipient of the honor.

While the 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognized, the number of rounds fired in any given salute will vary depending on the conditions.

Circumstances affecting these variations include the particular occasion and, in the case of military and state funerals, the branch of service, and rank (or office) of the person to whom honors are being rendered.

President Suluhu fulfils the promise she made barely a month ago to visit President Kenyatta for bilateral talks on trade relations between Kenya and Tanzania.

Suluhu seems to be amending the crawling Kenya-Tanzania relationship which has deteriorated especially after the death of the country’s former president John Pombe Magufuli.

President Suluhu is expected to address a joint parliamentary sitting in parliament buildings, a thing that last happened when Magufuli’s predecessor Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete addressed Kenya’s parliament on October 6, 2015.

Amongst other issues the two heads of state are expected to deliberate is fighting Covid-19.Uhuru and Suluhu are expected to come up with joint measures to regulate the spread of Coronavirus in the two states.

She will also be meeting traders and trade unions and especially females a move that is seen as inspiring women to aspire to be leaders.

Suluhu seems to be more vigilant in fighting the virus as opposed to her predecessor John Magufuli who was a bit reluctant and never accorded the virus the attention it deserves.

She will address a joint parliamentary sitting on Wednesday.

The grant opportunity to address the joint parliamentary sitting is an indication of the measure of honour that Suluhu receives from Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a notice given to all Members of parliament and the Senate by respective house speakers, the joint sitting is set to occur on Wednesday May 5, in the National Assembly Chamber, Main parliament buildings.

Following the visit, Senate speaker Ken Lusaka immediately cancelled the sittings meant to deliberate on the BBI bill by Senate as well as consideration of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2021.

After that, she will then proceed for the bilateral meetings ahead of the two-day visit.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta and the First Lady Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta will host an official State Dinner for Her Excellency at State House,” the statement read.