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  Pope Francis arrives in Kenya at start of Africa tour

Pope Francis arrives in Kenya at start of Africa tour

AFP/AKI
Published : Nov 26, 2015, 3:24 am IST
Updated : Nov 26, 2015, 3:24 am IST

Pope Francis walks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta following his arrival at the Jommo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi on Wednesday. — AFP

Pope Francis.jpg
 Pope Francis.jpg

Pope Francis walks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta following his arrival at the Jommo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi on Wednesday. — AFP

Pope Francis landed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Wedn-esday on the first leg of a landmark three-nation trip to Africa, greeted with cheering crowds and traditional dancers.

As the papal plane trundled across the tarmac, a Kenyan and a Vatican flag flying from the front, crowds decked in brightly-coloured clothes, arms around each other’s shoulders, bounced up and down waiting for the plane to halt.

Stepping onto the red ca-rpet, the 78-year-old pontiff nodded in greeting, smiling broadly as the exc-ited crowd erupted into cheers, whistles and ululations of joy, and a choir burst into song. Dancers, some in traditional feather headdresses, colourful dresses and beads, leapt high into the air, as Fran-cis was met by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta with a red carpet welcome.

The pontiff, who will also visit Uganda and troubled Central African Republic (CAR) before flying back to Rome on Monday, is expected to call for the need to address inequality to ensure peace and end conflict.

On a trip fraught with security concerns, thousa-nds of police and troops have been deployed with key roads closed in the ca-pital Nairobi, to ensure the visit is peaceful. Al Qaeda’s East Africa bra-nch, the Shebab, have lau-nched a string of attacks against Kenya because they have troops deployed in Somalia.

Francis said he was delighted to make his first visit to Africa. “Mungu abariki Kenya! God bless Kenya!” the Francis tweeted from his @Pontifex account.

Location: Kenya, Nairobi