King Charles: 6 Other High Profile Personalities Who Visited Kenya In 2023

• In 2023, President William Ruto hosted various foreign heads of state, where he signed several bilateral agreements
• Among those who visited the country were King Charles and Queen Camila, who was given a royal welcome
• Iran President Ebrahim Rais made his first trip to Kenya as an Iranian president in more than a decade

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

In 2023, President William Ruto hosted several high-profile leaders from various countries to cement his diplomatic power globally.

Among those who visited the country were foreign presidents and heads of global organisations, which raised the country's profile worldwide.

TUKO.co.ke looks at seven prominent people who visited the country in 2023:

1. King Charles

King Charles III and Queen Camila were among the high-profile personalities hosted by Ruto in 2023.

The royal couple visited Kenya on October 31 and were given a ceremonial red carpet welcome by Kenyan President Ruto, who has hailed the visit as a "significant opportunity to enhance collaboration" in various fields.

Their majesties held a series of engagements in Nairobi and Mombasa counties, including laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Uhuru Gardens and visiting the Mtongwe Naval Base.

2. Iran President Ebrahim Rais

President Rais visited Kenya on July 12 for a one-day visit and was hosted by Ruto at State House, where the two heads of state signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

Raisi's trip, which also took him to Uganda and Zimbabwe, was the first by an Iranian president in more than a decade.

3. US First Lady, Jill Biden

The US First Lady, Jill Biden, made a three-day visit to Kenya on February 24.

During her visit, Jill and Kenya's First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, visited the Women for Peace Group in Kibera to experience the table banking model.

She also visited the drought-affected communities in Kenya and appealed to wealthy nations to give more, as the Horn of Africa has suffered its driest conditions in decades.

She left the country on February 26 and was seen off by President Ruto, Mama Rachel Ruto, and other senior government officials.

4. Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The German chancellor visited the country on May 4 and held bilateral talks with Ruto about economic relations and renewable energy.

Scholz visited the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station in Naivasha and the Africa Union (AU) offices before completing his three-day tour to Africa.

Germany has pledged to fund the expansion of the power station

5. Julius Malema

The South African opposition politician visited the country on November 9 to attend the launch of the Pan African Institute.

During his visit, he met several politicians, both from the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.

The vocal politician caused controversy after he used his visit to criticise President Ruto for failing to fulfil his campaign promises to Kenyans.

“I don’t know if President William Ruto means it because he said so many things, and I can’t locate him these days, because the things he said during the election and the things he’s doing now are two different things,” Malema stated.

6. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin

United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin is also among the high-profile personalities who visited Kenya in 2023.

The purpose of his visit was to strengthen the already existing bond and military ties between the two countries

7. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres landed in Kenya for a two-day official visit on May 3.

Guterres was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by then Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua.

Mutua announced that Guterres will meet President Ruto and hold talks on the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan.

"The Secretary-General will hold talks with President William Ruto. Top of his agenda is the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan as well as holding consultations with all the Heads of UN Agencies who are meeting in Nairobi this week," Mutua said.