President Uhuru Kenyatta Awarded Barbados' Highest State Honor

President Kenyatta has been conferred the 'Order of Freedom of Barbados' award by the Barbadian government.

Kenyatta was feted on Wednesday for his leading role in the promotion of global trade and strengthening of relations between African and Caribbean countries.

The 'Order of Freedom of Barbados' is the highest State honor conferred on outstanding Barbadian citizens and foreigners for extraordinary service to Barbados, Caribbean Diaspora, or to humanity at large. The award was presented to President Kenyatta by the Barbados Governor General Dame Sandra Mason at Government House in Bridgetown.

“The accolade of honorary Member of the Order of the Freedom of Barbados is being conferred on the President of the Republic of Kenya for his outstanding accomplishment as a global leader, his commitment to enhancing global trade and sustainable development, and efforts to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between Kenya and CARICOM, in particular the bilateral relationship between Kenya and Barbados,” the citation read in part.

Speaking after receiving the award, Kenyatta termed the honor as a great sign of the growing ties between Kenya and Barbados.

He added that the award also signifies the work he and Prime Minister Mia Mottley have been doing to strengthen the ties between Africa and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) region.

“Our desire and objective is to see all people of African descent come together, be able to stand together, and be able to fight for our respective rights, freedoms, and our space in global affairs,” said Kenyatta.

“This, I believe, is the spirit that has brought me to Barbados, it is the spirit that continues to encourage me to continue with the work that we have started. It is really my hope and prayer that as a result of the engagements we have had, we will see the strengthening and re-establishment of the Pan-Africanism – the spirit that brought us our independence.”

The ceremony was attended by senior government officials representing the two nations, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Kenyan Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs) and Monica Juma (Energy).