Post date: Dec 11, 2013 9:21:23 PM
Kenya is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary since gaining independence on December 12th 1962, becoming a republic a year later
(NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KENYA) - Kenya will on Thursday (December 12) celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
The east African country became independent on December 12, 1963, and became a republic a year later, with Jomo Kenyatta as president.Thursday and Friday have been declared public holidays with banks, businesses and schools remaining closed.
Balloons and fireworks will be set off on midnight Thursday with the president expected to make a speech later in the day.
President Kenyatta - who is Jomo Kenyatta's son - will lead the celebrations at a sports facility just by the capital as well as host a luncheon with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, that heads of states and representatives of government have been invited to.
Kenya has managed to retain a cordial relationship with the United Kingdom around trade and tourism.
More British tourists visit Kenya every year than from any other country - close to 200,000. A similar number of Kenyans live in Britain and the Kenyan diaspora sends back more in remittances than all development aid combined.
The UK is the biggest cumulative investor in Kenya, and Kenya's second biggest export market, the biggest outside of Africa. British consumers buy Kenyan flowers, vegetables, tea and coffee
President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto face crimes against humanity at the international criminal court for orchestrating the 2007-2008 post-poll violence that killed more than 1,000 people and displacing many others.
In September Kenya suffered a major terrorist attack. Six Britons were among the 67 people killed when members of the al-Qaida-linked al Shabaab militants attacked an upscale shopping mall inNairobi.
Kenya has undergone a lot as it strives to define itself as a regional economic powerhouse. Many challenges such as poverty and insecurity still exist.
Kenya peacefully elected its third president in March this year further building on its achievements over the last 50 years - with a new 2012 constitution thought to be one of the most progressive in the world.