Finnish President Alexander Stubb is on a historic three-day state visit to Kenya, marking the first official visit by a Finnish head of state to the East African nation since diplomatic ties were established in 1965. On Monday, President Stubb and Kenyan President William Ruto presided over the signing of two bilateral agreements focused on political consultations and peace mediation, underscoring a growing partnership between the two countries in diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Speaking during a joint press conference at State House Nairobi, both leaders also reaffirmed their support for the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which officially came into force in July 2024. The EPA grants Kenya duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market and is expected to boost trade volumes, especially in agriculture, technology, and renewable energy sectors. President Stubb praised Kenya’s consistent role as a stabilizing force in global peace efforts, citing its contributions in mediating regional conflicts and its principled stance on international crises including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East.
“Kenya has been a pillar of peace on the global stage. This new Memorandum of Understanding on peace mediation is a natural extension of our shared values,” said Stubb. He also emphasized strengthening economic ties, highlighting the presence of a delegation of over 30 Finnish business leaders accompanying him on the visit. The delegation includes representatives from sectors such as clean energy, education technology, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
President Ruto welcomed the expanded cooperation, noting that Finland’s expertise in renewable energy, education reform, and climate action aligns with Kenya’s development blueprint. “Finland is a leader in green innovation and inclusive education. We look forward to scaling up cooperation in these areas to support our Vision 2030 goals,” Ruto stated.
The two presidents also discussed regional security challenges, climate resilience, and digital transformation, with further high-level engagements and business-to-business forums planned during the remainder of the visit. President Stubb’s visit comes amid growing Nordic interest in East Africa, signaling Finland’s intention to play a more active role in the region’s economic and geopolitical landscape.
