Kenyan Youth Celebrate Outgoing Japanese Ambassador

Posted by UZIMA Foundation on Sep 14, 2010 in Blog, Features, Press & Media0 comments

Kenyan Youth Celebrate Outgoing Japanese Ambassador

UZIMA Foundation Honours H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani
Press Release – For Immediate Release



Nairobi, Kenya – 14 September 2010

UZIMA Foundation honoured H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, for his positive engagement with youth during his time in Kenya. The farewell celebration for Ambassador Iwatani was held at UZIMA Foundation headquarters, Nairobi, on Tuesday afternoon and attended by the Ambassador, UZIMA Foundation Board members and staff with UZIMA Foundation youth members.

H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Kenya (red tie centre); Mr. H.R. Were, Chairman of the UZIMA Foundation Board (grey suit); and Prof Miriam Were Laureate, Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize and co founder of UZIMA Foundation (red coat) join UZIMA Foundation youth in a dance at the farewell celebration for Ambassador Iwatani at UZIMA Foundation headquarters.

Image A: H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Kenya (red tie centre); Mr. H.R. Were, Chairman of the UZIMA Foundation Board (grey suit); and Prof Miriam Were Laureate, Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize and co founder of UZIMA Foundation (red coat) join UZIMA Foundation youth in a dance at the farewell celebration for Ambassador Iwatani at UZIMA Foundation headquarters.

Mr. Humphreys Were, Chairman of the UZIMA Foundation Board, thanked Ambassador Iwatani for cementing the strong ties between Kenya and Japan by investing in Kenyan youth through sponsoring initiatives such as water development at the UZIMA Foundation Training Centre inKiserian.

Professor Miriam Were, co founder of UZIMA Foundation and Laureate, Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize by Japan, thanked Ambassador Iwatani for personally participating in peace initiatives led by youth around Kenya during the post election violence in 2008 and for showing keen interest in a wide range of Youth Empowerment Programmes in line with the Human Security approach.

Addressing the UZIMA Foundation youth members Ambassador Iwatani thanked them for their example. “Having been in Kenya for three years I have learnt that there is unity in your diversity”, the ambassador advised. Ambassador Iwatani urged the youth to guard their integrity, “You should keep your commitments. If you cannot fulfil your commitment, you should not make it in the first place” stated the ambassador.

H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Kenya wears a kikoi presented by Mr. Fred Munyiri, Executive Director UZIMA Foundation (blue shirt far left), Miss Winnie Kinaro, Programmes Manager UZIMA Foundation (purple shirt right) and Miss Lina Musilivi, Resource Officer UZIMA Foundation (black t-shirt centre).

Image B: H.E. Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Kenya wears a kikoi presented by Mr. Fred Munyiri, Executive Director UZIMA Foundation (blue shirt far left), Miss Winnie Kinaro, Programmes Manager UZIMA Foundation (purple shirt right) and Miss Lina Musilivi, Resource Officer UZIMA Foundation (black t-shirt centre).

UZIMA Foundation youth presented the Ambassador and his family with gifts of handicrafts they had made to remind them of Kenya as well as kikois to protect them against the European winter as Ambassador Iwatani prepares to take up his new post in Austria.

Comments are closed.