diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
index 2e6dba9..7829c6d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
@@ -16,11 +16,8 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: [3.7, 3.8, 3.9, "3.10", 3.11]
-        # TODO: revert macOS-13 back to macOS-latest
-        # macOS-latest switched architectures and does not have older versions of python available
-        # https://github.com/actions/setup-python/issues/856
-        os: [ubuntu-latest, macOS-13, windows-latest ]
+        python-version: [3.8, 3.9, "3.10", 3.11]
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, macOS-latest, windows-latest ]
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3187335..22a9fe2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ access.
 For questions regarding Amazon Kinesis Service and the client libraries please visit the
 [Amazon Kinesis Forums][kinesis-forum]
 
+## 🚨Important: Migration to Python KCL 2.2.0 or later with MultiLangDaemon - Credential Provider Changes Required
+Java KCL version 2.7.0 and later uses AWS SDK for Java 2.x instead of AWS SDK for Java 1.x. For the KCL Python 2.x versions,
+v2.2.0 is the first Python release to use Java KCL 2.7.0. All MultiLangDaemon users upgrading from earlier versions must update
+their credential provider configuration in the `.properties` file to use credentials provider name for AWS SDK for Java 2.x.
+Failure to do this will cause your multilang KCL application to fail during startup with credential provider construction errors.
+Please check the following link for the credentials provider mapping and MultiLangDaemon credentials provider configuration guide
+
+- [AWS SDK for Java 1.x to 2.x Credentials Provider Mapping](aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-java/latest/developer-guide/migration-client-credentials.html#credentials-changes-mapping)
+- [KCL Multilang Credentials Provider Configuration Guide](https://github.com/aws/amazon-kinesis-client/blob/master/docs/multilang/configuring-credential-providers.md)
+
+
 ## Running the Sample
 
 Using the `amazon_kclpy` package requires the MultiLangDaemon which is provided
@@ -145,6 +156,12 @@ all languages.
 * The [Amazon Kinesis Forum][kinesis-forum]
 
 ## Release Notes
+### Release 2.2.0 (2025-03-12) - IMPORTANT: See section ``Migration to Python KCL 2.2.0`` to ensure upgrading does not break compatibility
+* [#1444](https://github.com/awslabs/amazon-kinesis-client/pull/1444) Fully remove dependency on the AWS SDK for Java 1.x which will reach [end-of-support by December 31st, 2025](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/developer/announcing-end-of-support-for-aws-sdk-for-java-v1-x-on-december-31-2025/).
+    * The Glue Schema Registry integration functionality no longer depends on AWS SDK for Java 1.x. Previously, it required this as a transient dependency.
+    * Multilangdaemon has been upgraded to use AWS SDK for Java 2.x. It no longer depends on AWS SDK for Java 1.x.
+* [#270](https://github.com/awslabs/amazon-kinesis-client-python/pull/270) Upgrade logback.version from 1.3.14 to 1.5.16
+* [#270](https://github.com/awslabs/amazon-kinesis-client-python/pull/270) Upgrade netty.version from 4.1.108.Final to 4.1.118.Final
 
 ### Release 2.1.6 (January 22, 2025)
 * Updates KCL version to use KCL 2.6.1. Brings in [changes from the KCL 2.6.1 release][2.6.1 changelog]. 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index ae089ab..3fb03db 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <properties>
         <awssdk.version>2.25.64</awssdk.version>
         <aws-java-sdk.version>1.12.668</aws-java-sdk.version>
-        <kcl.version>2.6.1</kcl.version>
+        <kcl.version>2.7.0</kcl.version>
         <netty.version>4.1.118.Final</netty.version>
         <netty-reactive.version>2.0.6</netty-reactive.version>
         <fasterxml-jackson.version>2.13.5</fasterxml-jackson.version>
diff --git a/samples/sample.properties b/samples/sample.properties
index 8f4b510..147c32e 100644
--- a/samples/sample.properties
+++ b/samples/sample.properties
@@ -17,13 +17,12 @@ streamName = kclpysample
 applicationName = PythonKCLSample
 
 # Users can change the credentials provider the KCL will use to retrieve credentials.
-# The DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain checks several other providers, which is
+# Expected key name (case-sensitive):
+# AwsCredentialsProvider / AwsCredentialsProviderDynamoDB / AwsCredentialsProviderCloudWatch
+# The DefaultCredentialsProvider checks several other providers, which is
 # described here:
-# http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSJavaSDK/latest/javadoc/com/amazonaws/auth/DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain.html
-#
-# For additional configuration, including nested properties, see:
-# https://github.com/awslabs/amazon-kinesis-client/blob/master/docs/multilang/configuring-credential-providers.md
-AWSCredentialsProvider = DefaultAWSCredentialsProviderChain
+# https://sdk.amazonaws.com/java/api/latest/software/amazon/awssdk/auth/credentials/DefaultCredentialsProvider.html
+AwsCredentialsProvider = DefaultCredentialsProvider
 
 # Appended to the user agent of the KCL. Does not impact the functionality of the
 # KCL in any other way.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8044153..868a736 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 PACKAGE_NAME = 'amazon_kclpy'
 JAR_DIRECTORY = os.path.join(PACKAGE_NAME, 'jars')
-PACKAGE_VERSION = '2.1.6'
+PACKAGE_VERSION = '2.2.0'
 PYTHON_REQUIREMENTS = [
     'boto3',
     # argparse is part of python2.7 but must be declared for python2.6