THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
His Excellency Thomas Boniface Amolo of Kenya has presented his Letter of Credence to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking the beginning of his ambassadorship in Germany.
Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Iris Matlhodi Kekana-Amolo, Ambassador Amolo handed over his credentials at a ceremony which took place at the Schloss Bellevue, the seat of the German presidency, on Thursday (11 March).
During his interaction with President Steinmeier at the ceremony, Ambassador Amolo discussed partnership leveraging Kenya’s Chairmanship of the AU Peace and Security Council, East African Community and Kenya’s membership of the UN Security Council, among other issues. He also discussed Kenyan partnership with Germany in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), which he said was of huge benefit to Kenyan youths.
Born in Nairobi in 1961, Mr Amolo holds a BSc (Hons) in Political Science and a Diploma in Diplomacy from the University of Nairobi. He possesses a Master’s degree from the School of International and Public Affairs at the Columbia University New York.
A career diplomat, Ambassador Amolo has served, among other capacities, as Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Nigeria. Before his latest appointment, he was the Political and Diplomatic Affairs Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also a Special Envoy for Kenya’s campaign for membership of the UN Security Council.
Mr Amolo, a veteran of Kenyan diplomatic service, last visited Germany in 1986.
During his appearance before a committee of the Parliament of Kenya that vetted his appointment in October 2020, Mr Amolo had said that he would adopt an “aggressive outreach policy” to earn the trust and confidence of Kenyans living in Germany. He looks forward to interacting with the Kenyan diapora, COVID allowing.
Femi Awoniyi
