Angolan President João Lourenço was scheduled to be the chief guest at the 60th Mashujaa Day Celebrations in Kericho, as per an invitation from President William Ruto. However, the Angolan leader did not attend the event due to unforeseen reasons, as explained by the Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António at the Kericho Green Stadium.

Although the exact reasons for his absence were not immediately clear, Lourenço and his wife, Ana Dias Lourenço, had arrived in the country on Thursday evening. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi received the visiting couple at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

This marked the first time in recent history that a state chief guest failed to attend a function, despite being in the country a day earlier. Ruto confirmed that President Lourenço was in Kenya and would commence his official visit and discussions with the government on Saturday, October 21. According to Mudavadi, who also serves as the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Lourenço was scheduled to conclude his visit on October 20 after bilateral discussions with Ruto. It remains to be seen if the visiting President will extend his stay in the country.