On 1 June 2022, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, had the honour of joining His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya as Guest of Honour at the Madaraka Day celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi. The event marked the unveiling of the Uhuru Gardens National Monument, a significant commemoration of Kenya’s attainment of internal self-rule in 1963.
In his address, President Bio underscored the deep and enduring fraternal ties between Sierra Leone and Kenya, anchored in shared history, solidarity, and a common commitment to peace and development. He acknowledged Kenya’s national achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and trade, describing them as an inspiration for Sierra Leone’s own development journey.
President Bio also reflected on Kenya’s unwavering support to Sierra Leone in times of need. He expressed gratitude for the role of Kenyan doctors and nurses during the Ebola outbreak in 2014, and paid tribute to the Kenyan peacekeepers who served under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. Their sacrifice, he noted, was instrumental in helping Sierra Leone transition from conflict to stability:
“If we are today the fourth most peaceful democracy in Africa, it is partly because of the sacrifice of Kenyans.” lauded President Bio
Earlier, during his State Visit to Nairobi in May 2022, President Bio held bilateral talks with President Kenyatta, reaffirming cooperation in trade, investment, ICT, education, tourism, and security. He also expressed appreciation for Kenya’s generous donation of digital equipment to support Sierra Leone’s first-ever electronic population census — a gesture he described as a true symbol of African solidarity and partnership.
More recently, President Bio has continued to champion closer collaboration with Kenya on regional and continental platforms. At the African Climate Summit (2023) in Nairobi, he applauded Kenya’s leadership on climate action and committed Sierra Leone to advancing similar initiatives through South–South cooperation. In April 2024, while addressing the World Bank IDA21 Summit in Nairobi, he highlighted the importance of climate-resilient infrastructure, food security, and human capital development as key pillars for Africa’s sustainable growth.
Through these engagements, President Bio has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Kenya. The two nations continue to share a vision of peace, prosperity, and Pan-African solidarity, working together to build a stronger and more resilient Africa.