President Mwai Kibaki arrived in Lilogwe, Malawi Wednesday morning for a two day State Visit.
The plane carrying the President and his entourage touched down at the Kamuzu International Airport at shortly after 12:00 noon Kenyan time.
On arrival, President Kibaki was received by his host, President Joyce Banda, and a host of senior Malawi Government officials among them the Vice President, Mr. Khumbo Kachali, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Ephraim Mganda Chiume, and the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force, General Henry Odillo.
President Kibaki was honoured with a 21 salute before inspecting a colourful guard of honour mounted by the Malawi Defence Force.
Shortly After arriving, President Kibaki, accompanied by President Joyce Banda proceeded to the Lilongwe Civic offices where he was conducted into the council chamber by the chief executive officer Mr Vitto Mulula
In a colourful ceremony conducted in the council chambers President Kibaki was accorded freedom of the city of Lilongwe and also received a scroll of hour and a symbolic key.
The conferment of the freedom of the city of Lilongwe empowers the recipient to participate in all civic activities of the city of Lilongwe.
In his acceptance speech, President Kibaki expressed his profound gratitude saying the conferment was an honour not only to himself but to the people of Kenya.
The President further hailed the ties of friendship between the people of Kenya and Malawi which he said dates back to the time of the founding father of Malawi the late Kamuzu Banda.
During the visit, which aims to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between Kenya and Malawi, President Kibaki is expected to hold talks with President Joyce Banda on many issues of common interest touching on bilateral, regional and international concerns.
The President is also expected to address a business forum that will bring together members of the Kenya and Malawi business communities at the Bingu International Conference Centre.
President Kibaki will also lay a foundation stone to inaugurate the construction of the Lilongwe West By-pass Road.
The President is accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof. Sam Ongeri, Cooperatives Minister Joseph Nyaga, Attorney General Githu Muigai and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi.
Source:KBC
