President William Ruto has revealed that he received a message of condolences from King Charles III of the United Kingdom on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away two months ago.
According to President Ruto, the British monarch expressed his deep sense of loss and conveyed condolences to the family of the Rt Hon Raila Odinga and to the people of Kenya.
King Charles Praises Odinga’s Democratic Legacy
President Ruto said King Charles noted that he had known the late Prime Minister as a steadfast leader with a strong commitment to building democratic consensus.
The King also praised Odinga’s open-mindedness and his deep concern for the plight of ordinary people.
The tribute highlighted Odinga’s influence as a statesman whose leadership resonated beyond Kenya’s borders.
Odinga’s Condolence Message Delivered at State House
The message from King Charles was formally delivered to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, by the United Kingdom Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Ed Barnett.
President Ruto said the engagement underscored the enduring diplomatic relationship between Kenya and the United Kingdom.
Ruto noted with satisfaction that Kenya–UK relations have continued to strengthen, particularly after the signing of a strategic partnership last July.
As a result of this partnership, trade volumes between the two countries have risen from £1.3 billion (KSh224 billion) to £2 billion (KSh345 billion).
UK Support for Kenya’s Infrastructure Agenda
During the meeting, Mr Barnett expressed the UK’s support for the establishment of Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund, with Britain indicating it is ready to provide experts to support the initiative.
President Ruto said the fund will be critical in expanding infrastructure development across the country.
Ruto highlighted the Nairobi Railway City project as a flagship programme under the Kenya–UK partnership.
The project is expected to transform Nairobi into a modern, green, and vibrant transport hub, strengthening the capital’s role as a regional economic and logistics centre.
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