Ruto welcomes Lunar Year, commits to support Chinese community
The Chinese New Year festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 10 — President William Ruto has welcomed the Chinese Lunar Year with a commitment to strengthen Kenya-China ties.
In a statement on Saturday, Ruto said Kenya and China have forged and enjoyed “warm and strong relations based on friendship, mutual trust and commitment to progress.”
He extended best wishes to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people as they stepped into the year 2024 assuring the Chinese community in Kenya of government support.
“I also confirm to you that members of [the] Chinese community in Kenya receive the support they need to feel at home away from home, as they make their contribution to the transformative partnership between Kenya and China,” he stated.
Ruto restated his commitment to strengthen existing ties noting the marking of the 60th annivesary of diplomatic relations between the two nations on 14 December, 2023, as a key milestone.
“As you welcome the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes good health, good luck, power, strength and wisdom, it is our desire that the Government and people of Kenya will progress along the path that we have jointly charted for the Kenya-China strategic partnership,” he added.
Lunisolar Chinese calendar
The Chinese New Year festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
The festival begins with the first new moon of the Lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon.
Since the Lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.
The Lunar New Year 2024 fell on 10 February, a Saturday.
The year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, a fascinating creature deeply embedded in Chinese culture as a symbol of luck, strength, and wisdom.
The Kenya Overseas Chinese Association and the Kenya Chinese Women Association hosted the Nairobi Chinese New Year Gala at the Two-Rivers Mall.
The event was graced by Zainab Hawa Bangura, Under-Secretary General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian.
The event featured Chinese cultural exhibitions, festive performances, Chinese cuisines, and interactive games.
The Gala presented a rich, colorful, and lively Chinese festival culture feast to the Chinese community in Kenya and the Kenyan people celebrating the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
