Becoming president often comes with the privilege and responsibility of visiting different countries while serving in office. For instance, Kenya’s current President, William Ruto, has already made numerous foreign trips within just four years in power.
His predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, also visited several countries during his 10-year tenure as president. In most cases, heads of state travel abroad for official trips aimed at benefiting their countries both in the short and long term.
While Kenya’s recent presidents have made countless trips outside the country, the same could not be said for Jomo Kenyatta, the country’s founding president. During his 14 years in power, he only visited one foreign country, which was in Africa.
Times Digital Kenya takes a look at the only country that Jomo Kenyatta visited while serving as President.
Jomo Kenyatta’s Only Foreign Trip as President
Having ruled Kenya for 14 years, many would expect Jomo Kenyatta to have visited several countries both within Africa and beyond. However, that was not the case.
In fact, his only trip outside Kenya was to the neighbouring African country of Ethiopia. He visited the country in 1969, several years after becoming head of state.
The purpose of Jomo Kenyatta’s visit was to meet the then Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie. The two leaders were known to be close friends, with their strong relationship reportedly being one of the few reasons that convinced Mzee Kenyatta to travel outside Kenya.
When he arrived in Ethiopia, Jomo Kenyatta received a special welcome. Ethiopia’s military performed an aerial display in his honour, famously spelling out his first name, “Jomo,” in the sky.
While his visit to Ethiopia was the only time he travelled outside Kenya as president, Mzee Kenyatta had also visited United Kingdom in 1964 when he was still Prime Minister. He travelled there to attend the Prime Ministers’ Conference.
According to former Social Secretary Elizabeth Madoka, Jomo Kenyatta reportedly suffered from pteromerhanophobia, which is the fear of flying. This is believed to explain why he rarely travelled abroad and only made one foreign trip during his 14-year tenure as president.
