Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has conveyed his deep appreciation to Angola for recognising Kenya’s Founding Father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, during their independence day celebrations in Luanda

In a statement on Saturday, November 8, 2025, the former Head of State expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço for the posthumous honour conferred to the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

The decoration awarded under the Honour Class during Angola’s 50th Anniversary of National Independence celebrations is a significant recognition of Mzee Kenyatta’s enduring legacy as a Pan-Africanist leader.

Uhuru’s brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, received the award in Angola on behalf of the Kenyatta family on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

“This gesture is seen not merely as an honour to an individual, but as a reaffirmation of the deep, historical bonds and shared struggle for liberation between Kenya and Angola,” Uhuru’s statement read in part.

Muhoho’s appreciation speech

Speaking after receiving the state award, Muhoho Kenyatta indicated that it was a powerful recognition and reminder of the Pan-African ideals that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta championed, a vision of a united, free, and self-determined Africa.

He further noted that it acknowledged his push for Angola’s liberation.

“This prestigious award serves as a powerful reminder of the Pan-African ideals that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta championed, a vision of a united, free, and self-determined Africa. His solidarity with Angola’s liberation movement was rooted in the unwavering belief that the destiny of all African nations is interconnected,” Muhoho stated.

This recognition, which also included other key African figures, strengthens the fraternal ties between the two nations and celebrates a common history of overcoming colonialism.

The recognition of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta comes as a reminder of the enduring pan-African solidarity that helped fuel the independence movements across the continent during the mid-20th century.

In his address at the ceremony, President Lourenço praised Kenyatta’s efforts to support the liberation movements in Angola, particularly his advocacy for African unity in the face of colonialism.

The late Jomo Kenyatta, who became Kenya’s first president in 1964, was an ardent supporter of other African nations’ battles for