Kenya celebrated the 53rd anniversary of its independence this month. After 68 years of British rule, on December 12, 1963, Kenya attained independence as a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state until the following year on 12th December 1964 when it became a Republic. I met Kenya’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency (HE) Lazarus Amayo, a truly inspiring, remarkable gentleman with an impressive career thus far.
The youngest in a large family of politicians, academics, lawyers, bankers and administrators, HE believes these relatives gave him the desire to pursue his long career in the public sector, culminating in his current role as a High Commissioner of Kenya to the UK which he has held since November 2014.
HE, who holds a BA from Spicer Memorial College, India and an MA from Delhi University, taught Geography and Biology for two years in a secondary school, his first experience of public service. After eight years working in HR, of what was then the Kenya Post & Telecommunications Corporation, he entered politics in 1989 and was elected as an MP, and subsequently appointed Assistant Minister for Education. He later became the CEO of Catering Levy Trustees, a state corporation, in 1993.
HE’s first diplomatic posting (1994-2004) was as High Commissioner to India, with concurrent accreditation to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Singapore. Here, his greatest achievement was increasing the number of bilateral engagements, and reactivating and convening the Joint Commission, “a framework for the purposes of guiding relations between India and Kenya.”
In July this year when India’s Premier Narendra Modi visited the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Kenya’s President, HE Uhuru Kenyatta, described the visit “extremely significant.” He explained: “It is evident in our fashion as more African women embrace Indian clothing and beauty practices, it is evident in Swahili music of our coastal regions and it is part of what makes many Indians feel at home when they are in Kenya and vice versa.”
Friendship between India and Kenya goes back a long time. In 1896, 32,000 Indians came to Kenya to build the Kenya-Uganda Railway. They took on jobs as skilled labourers, artisans, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, tailors, motor mechanics and electrical fitters. And when the Railway was finished in 1902, about 7,000 of those workers stayed behind to build a future in East Africa. During my meeting with HE at the Kenyan High Commission in Portland Place, London, HE asked me, ‘apne Pharmacy kiya, fir journalism me kaise aa gaye?, which translates to, ‘you studied pharmacy, how did you get into journalism?,’ He’d clearly googled me. I was amazed by this, his Hindi too. Also sat in with us was High Commission’s First Secretary, Fredrick Kidali.
Commenting on the numbers of British people living in Kenya and Kenyans living in the UK, he says “there is a lot that binds us together”. HE is keen to emphasise flourishing economic relations, noting that the UK is Kenya’s second-largest export destination and its largest European investor. Although there are over 210 UK companies operating in Kenya and the value of investments standing at around Stg. £2.5 billion, HE would like to see this number increase. “There are vast opportunities in Kenya for UK companies and entrepreneurs,” he says.
Asked if he sees terrorism as a challenge for Kenya. He said, “Terrorism is a global challenge that requires the concerted efforts of the international community to tackle it. Kenya is doing its part within the framework of the Africa Union to help ensure peace and security in the sub-region.” The High Commissioner added that what happened 17 months ago were isolated incidences which the Country has overcome and that Kenya is as safe as any other nation in the world. British mainstream media, in particular, tends to paint, some say, a bleak image of Kenya in its day-to-day coverage. I put this to HE for comment. “Our desire is to enhance relations for the mutual benefit of our people,” he smiled.
HE is married to Mrs. Nelly Amayo, and the couple have three grown-up children. A role model High Commissioner, HE is a man who not only inspires but plays a pivotal role in making a positive difference to the lives of all those he comes across. Me included.
