On Monday night, President William Ruto left the country for Japan where he will lead crucial bilateral engagements between Kenya and the East Asian nation. The President is currently on his way to Tokyo.
The statement by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed described the visit as a State Visit, while an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan described the visit as an Official Visit.
“During their stay in Japan, the President and Mrs Ruto will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan will host a Court Luncheon in honour of the President and Mrs Ruto. Mr.Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, will hold a summit meeting with the President. Prime Minister and Mrs. Kishida will host a dinner for the President and his spouse,” reads part of the announcement.
On Tuesday morning, a section of Kenyans decided to question what the trip was with many choosing to side with what the Japanese Ministry had indicated the trip to be.
However, many others have insisted that the visit is a State Visit.
This debate has seen people from all walks of life and different professions try to pen their different understandings of what it means.
State Visit
A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state of one country to the head of state of another country. This is usually at the invitation of the host country’s leader. The Host country also bears the cost of the expenses incurred during the visit.
This visit is the highest rank in the category of foreign visits and is accorded only to people serving as heads of state. In the case of Monarchs, only the King can be accorded a State Visit.
The visiting head of state is usually accompanied by an official delegation of between eight to 10 people.
State Visits are precisely planned with most focus on diplomatic protocols, and formal ceremonies.
In Kenya for instance, the visiting head of state is accorded a 21-gun salute, inspects a guard of honour, and signs a visitors’ book, among other details.
The host President also hosts a State Banquet for the visiting head of State at his official residence.
Official Visit
Official visits involve any senior official from the Head of state to Cabinet members and other senior ranking officials from one government to another.
The only difference that separates the two visits is that when a head of state is on an official visit the ceremonial protocols are skipped. In most instances, the visit only lasts for one or two days.
They, however, can be treated to a luncheon.
In countries that are run under the Monarchy system, where the Prime Ministers are heads of government, all trips they make to other countries are official visits.
A delegation of leaders sent to represent the head of state in another country is also counted officials' visits.
The delegation is usually smaller compared to the one for State Visit and costs are still borne by the host country.