It was a light-hearted moment after President William Ruto met US National Basketball Association legend Shaquille O’Neal at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park.
In videos doing rounds on the internet, the President is seen shaking hands with the towering NBA star while engaging in friendly banter.
President Ruto was visibly awed by Shaquille O’Neal’s height, a reaction that added a touch of humour to the meeting and netizens have widely reacted to the encounter of the two.
Also present were First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto and US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman who posed for a photo.
President Ruto arrived in the United States on Monday for a week-long State Visit, marking the first visit of its kind by an African leader in 16 years.
His visit commenced at the Atlanta University Centre, focusing on enhancing educational collaborations between the US and Kenya.
He subsequently visited the Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay tribute to the civil rights movement and proceeded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters to discuss the health partnership between the US and Kenya. The day concluded with a gathering hosted by the Kenyan diaspora in Atlanta, attended by President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
On Tuesday, President Ruto will visit Spelman College to underscore the significance of higher education in science and technology.
Following this, he will tour Tyler Perry Studios to explore potential opportunities in the creative sector. His itinerary also includes a visit to the Coca-Cola company to seek new investments and to inaugurate Vivo’s first store. In the evening, Atlanta’s mayor, Andre Dickens, will host a dinner in his honour.
On Wednesday, President Ruto will travel to Washington, D.C., where he will receive full ceremonial state honours and engage with a congressional delegation, along with discussions on Capitol Hill.
Thursday’s schedule includes President Ruto and the First Lady laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honour American soldiers and other significant historical figures. They will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss development opportunities.
By K24
