King Charles III's Jamhuri Day message to Ruto

King Charles III has sent a message to President William Ruto as the country celebrates the 60th Jamhuri Day. 

The King congratulated Ruto and Kenyans saying he looks forward to a strong bilateral partnership.

"Dear Mr President, I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency, and the people of the Republic of Kenya on Jamhuri Day, which is particularly significant this year as you mark sixty years since Independence," he said in a statement.

"I look forward to the continuing warm friendship and the strong and close partnership between our two countries, including as members of the Commonwealth, in this special year of the tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth Charter."

The King also took the opportunity to thank the President for the warm welcome and hospitality during his and Queen Camilla's visit to Kenya in November.

He said the visit demonstrated the vital importance of the UK-Kenya partnership and ambitions to strengthen it further in the months and years to come.

"As we face these challenging times, our work together for prosperity, peace and democracy, and above all to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, is all the more important. As you, and Kenyans everywhere, celebrate today, my wife joins me in sending you our warmest good wishes for the year ahead."

The King and Queen made a four-day trip to Kenya marking his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as king.

Jamhuri Day is a national holiday in Kenya, celebrated on 12 December each year.

Jamhuri is the Swahili word for "republic" and the holiday officially marks the date when Kenya became an independent country on 12 December 1963.

This was six months after gaining internal self-rule on June 1, 1963, from the United Kingdom.

Kenya was colonized by Great Britain between 1901 and 1960.

Kenyans have geared up to commemorate Kenya's independence and reflect on the values of the nation.