A joy ride with Royal Horse Carriage as the Kenya High Commissioner

in the UK presents his credentials to the Queen

 

Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi presented his credentials to the Queen of England on Thursday 12th February, 2004 at 12.00 noon. The ceremony started at 11.00 a.m. at the Kenya High Commission offices at 45 Portland Place, London when the Royal Horse Carriage arrived. The head of the Diplomatic Corps welcomed the High Commissioner and his wife Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi into the carriage. The two ceremonial carriages drove through the streets of London to the excitement of Londoners waving side by side. A police patrol clearing the roads all the way to Buckingham Palace. Taking of the photographs was not allowed inside Buckingham Palace. Accompanying the High Commissioner in the second carriage was four senior staffs of the High Commissioner Mr. David Musyoka now first secretary, Colonel Haji the Defence Secretary, Ms Wanjiru Kinuthia the Commercial Attaché and Gama Boru who has taken over from Koikai as the consular at the embassy. To open a new chapter in the embassy the reporters were provided with a mini-car to follow the procession. Those included in the reporters car was two diplomatic photographers, Mr. Joseph Ngugi Kenya London Times, Mr. Seed of www.misterseed.com, Mr. Gitau wa Njenga of Jambo magazine and Videoman.

Inside the palace, the high commissioner  introduced the Kenya high commission staff  to the Queen before the two went inside for a presentation and some discussions. According to the official programme diplomats presenting their credentials to the Queen takes about 5 minutes to a maximum of seven minutes. According to sources, the Queen was quite happy to talk about Kenya to the High Commissioner talking of a beautiful land of Kenya and at last she told the high commissioner that his grandchild, William has just come back from Kenya.

 

After presenting his credentials to the Queen, the high Commissioner drove back to the Kenya High Commissioner where he was high congratulated by the embassy staffs and the Kenyans around the offices. Later he hosted a reception to diplomatic corps in his office in the afternoon.

 

Like a good wife, Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi had to make sure that the high commissioner adjusted his hat properly before going out of his office

Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi holding the credentials in his office ready to present it to the Queen

The defence attaché Colonel Haji (right) with the high commissioner in the office before leaving for Buckingham palace

Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi (centre) the wife Kenya High commissioner dressing elegantly as she prepares to leave for Buckingham palace

The two secretaries of the Kenya High Commissioner Sofi (left) and Chris Omar (centre) posing with Colonel Haji

Kenya High Commissioner with his family

 

From left is Colonel Haji defefence attaché, Miss Kamau head of immigration department, Leah Rotich education attaché, Ms Wanjiru Kinuthia commercial attaché and the acting consular Mr. Boru Garma

THE TEAM TO THE QUEEN - This is the team that escorted the Kenya High Commissioner to Buckingham Palace. From left is David Musyoka - first secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi, Mr. Muchemi -Kenya High Commissioner, Ms Wanjiru Kinuthia, Colonel Haji and Mr. Boru

 

 

Ready to see their boss off to Buckingham Palace

Kenya high commission staff posing outside their office as the await for the royal horse carriage to arrive

 

ARRIVING IN STYLE

The royal horse carriage arriving at the Kenya High Commission offices

Mr. Maina a staff of Kenya High commission trying it all with the royal carriage outside their offices

The Kenya high commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi trying the height of the royal carriage as he prepares to enter

Ladies first - Kenya high commissioner helping his wife to board the carriage

Once inside the carriage, you can afford a smile

Just like a good soldier, Colonel Haji (right) in the second carriage was serious for business with Boru Garma

 

HEADING FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE

It was all a joy ride through streets of London as Londoners waves to the procession

Negotiating a corner outside Buckingham Palace

The carriage with the high commissioner just about to enter the palace

Entering Buckingham Palace

 

ONE HOUR LATER

Inside Buckingham Palace - One hour later the carriage prepares to leave as the Greece Ambassador waits on the other side for his turn to present his credentials to the Queen

 

Driving out of the doors of Buckingham Palace as Mrs Cecilia Muchemi looks out

Open carriage was Gama Boru, Colonel Haji, Wanjiru Kinuthia and Mr. Musyoka all of Kenya High Commission

Mission accomplished as Mr. Muchemi steps out of the carriage outside the Kenya high commission offices after presenting his credentials

Posing with the head of the diplomatic corps

Some presents for the royal horse carriage team

A big welcome back to the offices by embassy staff and invited guests

Wives of the embassy staff posing for a photo with Mutinda and David

From Kenya One to Royal Horse Carriage is Mr. William Chege Kihiko a staff of Kenya High Commission - last time he posed with the Mercedes of the High Commissioner reading the number plate Kenya One

 

A RECEPTION AT THE EMBASSY

A cross section of the guests at the reception

Kenya high commission toasting for the Queen

Kenya High Commissioner Mr. Joseph Muchemi (right) sharing a joke with Miss Kamau head of immigration department

From right is David of Kenya Airways, John Edward chairman of the Kenya Society and the head of diplomatic corpos

THE BIG SIX - From left is Uganda's High Commissioner Dr. Tomasi, Tanzanian High Commissioner Mr. Omar, Kenya High Commissioner Mr. Muchemi, Rwanda ambassador Mrs. Rosemary Museminali, Lesotho's High Commissioner Lebohang M. and Namibia High Commissioner Monica Nashandi

From left is John Edward, Mr. Opula of BAT UK, Mr. Gitau wa Njenga, and Mr. Kute Kenya Airways General Manager Kenya Airways Europe and North America

From left is Stella, Patricia and Wanjiru staff of Kenya embassy

From left is Joseph Ngugi, Colonel and Mr. Charles Muhindi

 

From left is Mr. John Edwards and his wife, High Commissioner and Mr. Ngethe Mbiyu chairman of KMDJ

Mr. Koikai now the Kenya High Commissioner in Nigeria (right) posing with Mr.&Mrs. Muchemi at the reception

Mr. Kute (left) and Opuka of BAT

Mr. A. Gumende (left) Mozambique's ambassador in the UK posing with Mr&Mrs. Muchemi

 

 

 

END FOR NOW!