President Uhuru Kenyatta Becomes the First Kenyan President to Visit Lisbon
President Uhuru Kenyatta has today broken the Kenyan history to be the first Kenyan President to be welcomed at the Altice Arena in central Lisbon to preside over the high-level opening plenary session of the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, which Portugal and Kenya are co-hosting.
Leah Mukangai 
Various world leaders are expected to attend the conference, which began today and is expected to last several days, according to reliable reports from Lisbon.
Leaders at the United Nations Ocen Conference. PHOTO FILE
The conference, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya, was originally scheduled for 2020 but was moved to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Kenyan presidency in a statement on Sunday.
Its goal is to accelerate the adoption of science-based innovative solutions to challenges facing oceans and the global marine ecosystem.
Kenya's ambassador to Portugal, Prof Judi Wakhungu, revealed ahead of the Kenyan Head of State's arrival in Lisbon that, in addition to the UN meeting, President Uhuru Kenyatta will pay a two-day state visit to the Portuguese Republic on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Our two Heads of State will be presiding over the high-level opening of the ocean conference together with the UN Secretary-General.”
“This is very special. It is historic because this is the first time in history that a Kenyan Head of State has been recognized by our hosts, the Republic of Portugal,” Prof Judi stated.
The President was in Kigali, Rwanda, a few days ago for a Commonwealth meeting, and arrived in time to close the World Rally Championships in Naivasha yesterday evening.
He then flew out of the country at night, heading to Lisbon, Portugal, for a conference on ocean life conservation.
