First Kenya Week event kicks off on Tuesday with tourism seminar

Dubai: For the first time, Kenyans in the UAE will be marking Kenya Week, a celebration of all things related to the African nation.

Kenya Week is an initiative of the Nairobi government and kicks off on Tuesday.

As part of the celebrations, a high-level Kenyan delegation which will include the country's foreign affairs and tourism ministers will visit the UAE, Gulf News has learned.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moses Wetanqula and Minister for Tourism Najib Balala will hold a series of meetings with business and political leaders and the travel industry in the UAE to highlight the attractions of Kenya as an investment and tourist destination.

"This will be the first time for the Kenyan government to host such a week-long schedule of activities to celebrate the finest that Kenya has to offer in terms of trade, investment and tourism opportunities here in the United Arab Emirates," Mohammad A. Gello, Kenya's Ambassador to the UAE, said.

Important partner

"The UAE remains an extremely important partner for Kenya politically, economically and culturally. Through the staging of a ‘Kenya Week' we hope to bring our two communities at all levels even closer. Following a successful first Kenya Week here in the UAE we will also be looking to make this a yearly event."

Kenya Week activities will be launched with a Kenya trade, investment and tourism day seminar at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

This will be followed by a week-long series of special dinners and Kenyan cultural performances at the Le Meridien Hotel in Dubai, where visitors will have a chance to sample game meat flown in especially for the event.

Chef Reuben Nzuvu of the famous Utalii college in Kenya will help recreate the legendary ‘Carnivore' experience in the UAE, with impala, zebra, ostrich, springbok, kudu, crocodile and wildebeest game meats. Nairobi's Carnivore is a meat speciality brasserie.

"Diaspora Day" celebrations involving a large social gathering dedicated to the UAE's Kenyan community will also be held on Friday at the Emirates Training Centre in Dubai.