Over four hundred Rwandans gathered at the Rwanda High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya to mark the 21st anniversary of the liberation.

The event was graced by various guests that included Kenya government officials, diplomatic corps and Rwandans living in Nairobi.

Speaking at the occasion, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador James Kimonyo, emphasised that this year’s theme; ‘Prosperity in Dignity’, depicts the difficult journey Rwandans have walked in the past twenty-one years and where they want to go.

He narrated how the postcolonial political system kept Rwandan society deeply divided and denied a section of Rwandans fundamental rights and rights to statehood until the Rwanda Patriotic Front launched a liberation struggle that succeeded in defeating the genocidal regime on the July 4, 1994.

However, the regime in power had brutally massacred over one million people in one of the most gruesome Genocide of the 21st century.

"As we celebrate the rebirth of Rwanda, we humbly pay tribute to our freedom fighters and departed heroes for their unparalleled courage and sacrifice without which Rwanda wouldn’t be where it is to day. We shall always remain indebted to them,” he said.

Kimonyo explained that after the liberation, Rwanda faced enormous challenges and the government had to make difficult choices and decisions in order to come out of the socio-political and economic mess.

"As His Excellency President Paul Kagame said, I quote; "After 1994, everything was a priority and our people were completely broken. But we made three fundamental choices that guide us to this day; one, we chose to stay together; two, we chose to be accountable to ourselves, and three, we chose to think big”.

"These choices have enabled Rwanda to make tremendous progress in different aspects of national life, including security, justice, governance, democratic dispensation, economic transformation and social progress,” Kimonyo said.

The Ambassador Kimonyo added that the journey of liberation had made Rwanda enjoy regional and global cooperation that had significantly contributed to the realization of social-economic progress.

He noted that Rwanda and Kenya enjoy deep friendship and cordial relations based on shared values and ambitions to transform the lives of their citizens.

"In terms foreign direct investment in Rwanda, Kenya ranks number one. This has come as a result of accelerated reforms and policies initiated by our two governments,” Kimonyo noted.

He concluded his remarks by saying that it would be dishonouring the heroes who liberated Rwanda and stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi if they accepted mediocrity and tolerated injustices they fought to stop.

The Rwandan envoy gave an example of the recent arrest in the UK where Rwanda’s Chief of National Intelligence and Security Services, Gen Karenzi Karake, accused of Genocide.

"Let me use this opportunity to thank fellow Africans through our continental body, the African Union, for condemning this arrest. It confounds us – Rwandans – to see how, a man among those who stopped the genocide and liberated our country; a man who after a rigorous vetting process became UN Force overall Commander in Darfur, can be arrested on the basis of accusations leveled against him and other comrades by the very same people who committed the Genocide. For whatever reason, this is unacceptable, and whatever the case, Rwanda will keep the candle burning,” he concluded.

Joseph Ayimba, Assistant Director, Foreign Service who represented the Kenyan government, recognised the strides that the people of Rwanda had made to rise from the depths of despair that were visited on them by the Genocide.

"As Rwanda marks the 21st Anniversary of the end of the Genocide, we also celebrate the tremendous achievements it has registered in all spheres of development since the end of that dark chapter in its otherwise proud history,” he said.

"This resilience and resolve to chart a new direction serves to inspire great hope, not only in Rwanda, but also the region, Africa and the international community at large”.