Kenya becomes first African country chosen to co-host German presidential festival

Kenya is set to become the first nation on the continent to co-host the Annual Citizen Festival with Germany, the State Department for Foreign Affairs has announced.

The ministry noted that the event, more popularly known as the ‘Bürgerfest’, is hosted by the German Presidency every year to celebrate cultural diversity between the Western European country and a partner nation of their own choosing.

“Kenya was selected as the 2024 feature country on account of solid economic and political relations with Germany spanning for over 60 years,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

“During the Festival, Kenya will market and display its unique culture, including food, music, artifacts, tea, coffee, nuts, apparels. Join us in celebrating this milestone aimed at bridging cultural gaps; fostering understanding; marketing Kenya as a tourist destination and promote trade and investment.”

The festival will be held over two days between September 13-14, 2024 at the German President’s residence on Schloss Bellevue in Berlin from 8am to 8pm.

President William Ruto is expected to be in attendance at the event, which marks the first time a non-European country as been selected as the festival’s international partner.

German press outlets have previously reported that the motto for this year’s festival will be ‘Pamoja – Stronger Together,’ with Kenya set to be granted a stand in the presidential garden to showcase the country’s cultural diversity.

Kenya’s Ambassador to Germany, Stella Mokaya Orina, and Dr. Sylvie Nantcha, Chairperson of The African of Germany (TANG), have previously called on Africans residing in the country to show up in large numbers for the one-of-a-kind event.