Pope Francis landed at the Jommo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi this evening, kicking off his six day African tour that will see him arrive in Uganda on Friday.
He was welcomed at the airport by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, government officials and religious leaders, with thousands lining the Nairobi streets to catch a glimpse of the pontiff.
“I go with joy to meet Kenyans, Ugandans and our brothers in Central Africa,” he told journalists on his plane, the Associated Press news agency reports.
Despite Kenya and Uganda having been hit by Al Shabaab terrorists in the recent past and Central African Republic being a war-torn region, Pope Francis played down fears for his safety by joking: “I’m more worried about the mosquitoes,” the BBC reported.
About 30 per cent of Kenyans – including President Kenyatta – are baptised Catholics, and there is huge excitement around the visit.
The pontiff was driven to State House Nairobi for his first official engagement in a grey Honda saloon car.