Israel celebrates 72 years of independence

Even as the world is still grappling with the corona pandemic, the embassy of Israel in Nairobi this week marked their 72 nd independence day, on Facebook.

Hosted by deputy ambassador Mr. Eyal David and culturist Shani Gev-Bouzaglo, the 50-minute lively event, was a celebration that was marked with song, dance, and well-wishes from friends of Israel across the globe who drew huge traffic in the comment section of the page.

Amongst those who performed included the former Israeli Deputy
Ambassador to Kenya and local musician Gilad who entertained the viewers with his hit song ‘Milele’ and fancied visiting several tourist sites in Israel like River Jordan, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, River Jordan, Nazareth, Bethlehem as well as the Dead Sea.

Students from Tanzania and Malawi who had benefited from Israel’s State-sponsored education programmes also expressed their gratitude and sent their warm wishes.

The Nairobi diplomatic office handles diplomatic affairs for Tanzania, Uganda, Seychelles and Malawi.

Kenya’s History With Israel

Sending his congratulatory message which was read by Ambassador to Kenya Oded Joseph, President Kenyatta restated the historical relationship and between Kenya and Israel.

“On behalf of the people of Kenya, I convey to the people of the State of Israel my warm greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the 72nd national day of independence.

Kenya and Israel have historically enjoyed warm and friendly relations which have ensued in more cooperation in key sectors of our economies,” read the statement.

The roots of friendly ties between two countries can be linked to pre-independent times when Kenya was struggling to attain sovereignty and later on as a young independent nation trying to uphold the nation-building spirit.

Even before independence, Israeli experts from various fields that would strengthen bodies in the new state. For instance the National Youth Service was planted, based on the Israeli “Gadna” experience of enlisting the countries youth for national service in many fields and most specifically in
agriculture.

There was an agriculture exchange of knowledge and experience to flourish
and saw Kenyan trainees attending enrichment courses in Israel long before Kenya’s independence.

Under MASHAV, trainees from Kenya were flown to Israel for study, an
an effort that continues even as diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed following the 1973 “Yom Kippur” War, which saw many African states cutting their official ties with the State of Israel.

With the resumption of diplomatic ties in 1988, MASHAV diversified its efforts and resulted to many Kenyans traveling to Israel for training.

Israeli experts arrived in Kenya and trained Kenyans in various fields, a cooperation that diversified into large-scale projects.

The pinnacle and more well known of these projects was the “Kibwezi
Irrigation Project” which in collaboration with USAID has resulted in the training of hundreds of Kenyan farmers completely transforming the region into a self-sustaining area.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni too sent his warm wishes to via Facebook.

Sending his wishes via Facebook too, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin stated that Covid 19 would not stop the Israelis from celebrating their independence.

“This is not the first time we are celebrating our independence in a period of challenges. Again and again we have faced great dangers and threats, but our people’s determination and solidarity will allowed us to overcome every challenge. This same determination will allow us to overcome the great test of Covid-19 as well,” he said

The ambassador of Israel to Kenya, Amb. Joseph revealed to viewers that Israel’s prosperity has been anchored on three pillars – unity, good leadership and innovation.

“Though we were in exile for 2,000 years, we managed to return to our single place where we could express our common identity,” said Amb. Joseph