Kenya’s founding father, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, has been formally recognised by the Republic of Angola with a prestigious posthumous state award. The decoration, presented during Angola’s 50th Anniversary of National Independence celebrations, affirms Kenyatta’s indelible role as a giant of Pan-Africanism.
The award was presented by Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to Kenyatta’s son, Muhoho Kenyatta, in Luanda on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was decorated under the Honour Class, one of Angola’s highest state decorations. The recognition specifically highlights the critical support Kenya offered during Angola’s liberation struggle against Portuguese colonial rule.
The award ceremony was held during Angola’s Golden Jubilee celebrations (50th Anniversary of National Independence), and Muhoho Kenyatta received the award on behalf of the Kenyatta family. The facilitation of the honour was handled by Kenya’s Ambassador to Angola, H.E. Joyce Khasimwa M’maitsi.
The honour serves as a powerful reminder of the solidarity between newly independent African nations that helped fuel the final liberation movements across the continent.
Upon receiving the prestigious decoration, Muhoho Kenyatta underlined the political philosophy that drove his father’s support for the Angolan cause.
“This prestigious award serves as a powerful reminder of the Pan-African ideals that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta championed, a vision of a united, free, and self-determined Africa. His solidarity with Angola’s liberation movement was rooted in the unwavering belief that the destiny of all African nations is interconnected,” Muhoho stated.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta released a statement on Saturday, November 8, 2025, expressing the family’s profound gratitude, emphasizing the broader significance of the gesture to the Angolan government and President Lourenço.
“This gesture is seen not merely as an honour to an individual, but as a reaffirmation of the deep, historical bonds and shared struggle for liberation between Kenya and Angola,” the statement read.
President Lourenço, in his address, praised the concerted efforts of key African figures, including Kenyatta, who supported African liberation movements, celebrating a common history of overcoming colonialism.
