4 hours ago 13844
– Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi got a 19-gun salute during his official reception at State House, Nairobi
– Modi arrived on Sunday, July 10 f0r a 2-day state visit
– In Kenya, 21-gun salutes are only accorded visiting heads of state, with few exceptions
President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, July 11, received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to State House, Nairobi, with an elaborate state reception.
However, there was something different in PM Narendra Modi’s reception.
Unlike Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who got a 21-gun salute, Modi has three less.
“The national anthems of Kenya and India were played by the Kenya Defence Forces band, followed by the firing of 19 cannon shots,” reads a statement from State House.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mod inspects a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Air Force. Image: PSCU
Narendra Modi, who is on a 2-day state visit, then inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Air Force before holding bilateral talks with Uhuru. Modi is expected to leave the country later in the day.
So, why did Narendra Modi not get a 21-gun salute yet he is a prime minister just like Netanyahu?
In Kenya, 21-gun salute is usually accorded visiting heads of state.
PM Modi greets Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto during his official reception at State House, Nairobi, on July 11. Image: PSCU
It is only under exceptional circumstances, like in Netanyahu’s case, that heads of government get the honor.
Narendra Modi, as the prime minister of India, is a head of government and chief adviser to the president. President Pranab Mukherjee is the head of state.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu got a 21-gun salute when he visited President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House. Image: PSCU
Netanyahu is also the head of government but he is the most powerful figure in Israeli politics. President Reuven Rivlin is the head of state.
The president’s powers are said to be ceremonial and that could explain why PM Netanyahu got the 21-gun salute at State House.
In Africa, a similar political arrangement where the prime minister is more powerful than that president is in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn also received a 21-gun salute at State House on June 23.
No comments:
Post a Comment