US First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Nairobi on Thursday evening for a landmark visit. She was received by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The First Lady’s visit to Kenya follows a discussion she held with Mrs Kenyatta at White House when the Kenyan First Lady accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta on a visit to Washington DC in August this year.
This was followed by an announcement by the US First Lady during a reception she hosted for delegates to the 73rd Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where she confirmed her visit to Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.
On Friday, the US First Lady accompanied by her Kenyan counterpart will visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust before heading to State House for talks and later to the Kenya National Theatre where they will be treated to Kenyan creative cultural performances.
Melania is set to champion for her “Be Best” initiative, whose goals are similar to those of Margaret’s Beyond Zero.The two first ladies are expected to work on a plan that will see the two initiatives complement each other.
The Beyond Zero Campaign is an initiative by the First Lady, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta to aid in the health problems of mothers and children around the country. Despite its commitment to maternal health care, Kenya continues to make slow progression with this regard. With a maternal mortality rate of 488 deaths per 100,000 live births, the country is off track in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal numbers four and five by 2015. Kenya had committed to reduce these deaths to 147 per 100,000 live births by 2015.
In January 2014, Beyond Zero Foundation was formed to partner with the government in reducing maternal and child mortality.Spearheaded by The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, the Beyond Zero Campaign is part of the initiatives outlined in her strategic framework towards HIV control, promotion of maternal, new born and child health in Kenya.
Melania Trump unveiled a campaign to keep children happy and healthy in today’s hyperconnected, often unsettling world. The name of this lofty and laudable effort? “Be Best.”
That’s right: “Be Best!” Not “Be the Best”, or “Be Your Best”, or “Be the Best You Can Be”. Not “Be Better” or “Be Safe”, or even “Don’t Be a Jerk” (which is an actual campaign launched in New York to promote safe cycling).
The US first lady left Malawi on Thursday afternoon and is set to also tour Egypt after leaving Kenya.Melania Trump has so far visited Ghana and Malawi in her first solo international trip.