President William Ruto has formally accepted the credentials of nine newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners, marking the start of their diplomatic assignments in Kenya.
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, August 3, 2025 at State House, Nairobi.
During the presentation of credentials, President Ruto welcomed the envoys and acknowledged their mandate to represent their countries’ interests while strengthening ties with Kenya.
“By the dint of Article 132 (4)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya, I do accept your letters of credence and authorize you to pursue the interests of your country by promoting the mutual friendship and bonds of friendship between our two nations and promoting to the widest extent possible, within the law, the mutual aspirations of the peoples of our two nations,” said the President.
The new diplomats represent the Republic of Congo, Canada, Finland, Israel, Sweden, Spain, Belarus, Slovakia, and Indonesia.
Each of them expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation with Kenya in areas such as trade, health, energy, education, and agriculture.
Canada’s High Commissioner, Joshua Brebner Tabah, emphasized shared Commonwealth values and praised Kenya’s leadership in international peacekeeping missions.
He commended Kenya’s role in leading the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, noting the heavy sacrifices made by Kenyan forces.
“We deeply value Kenya’s leadership in regional and international forums… Our joint efforts reflect a shared dedication to restoring stability and supporting the Haitian people,” he stated.
Finland’s Ambassador Riina-Riikka Heikka said she would continue building on agreements from President Alexander Stubb’s visit to Kenya in May.
“The relationship between Kenya and Finland is excellent… I’ve already felt the warm welcome of this country and its people in a very unique way,” Heikka remarked.
At State House, Nairobi, President Ruto received the credentials of the newly-assigned envoys: Witjaksono Adji (Indonesia), Jaime Alejandro (Spain), Riina-Riikka Heikka (Finland), Maroš Mitrík (Slovakia), Joshua Brebner Tabah (Canada), Dzmitry Krasouski (Belarus), Leon Francois Yandouma (Republic of the Congo), Håkan Åkesson (Sweden), and Gideon Behar (Israel).
Their presence is expected to strengthen diplomatic ties and deepen cooperation between Kenya and their respective countries.
“We are building, consolidating, and broadening Kenya’s global networks with partner countries to advance and accelerate the realisation of our shared aspirations and mutual interests,” said President Ruto.
