President Stubb on state visit to Kenya

President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb paid a state visit to Kenya from 12 to 14 May 2025. The visit marked 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Kenya.

Monday 12 May, Nairobi

Welcoming ceremony in Nairobi. President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb were welcomed by President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto at the State House, the official residence of the Kenyan president. After the national anthems of Finland and Kenya had been played, 21 gun salutes were fired in honour of the state visit.

President Stubb was invited to inspect the Guard of Honour, after which he dismissed the red-coated guards. The marching band also performed the Finnish military march Muistoja Pohjolasta (Memories of the North). After greeting the delegations, taking a group photo and signing the guest book, the presidents held bilateral talks.

Video recording of the welcoming ceremony in Nairobi.

Media briefing. Following the official talks between the delegations, Presidents Stubb and Ruto held a joint press briefing. Prior to this, Finland and Kenya had signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs): one relating to political consultation, and the other to  peace mediation and conflict resolution. 

President Stubb said he was surprised to discover that this was the first state visit to Kenya by a Finnish president, given the two countries’ long-standing close relations. “We have a long history together, and I’m sure that our future will be good too,” he said.

The President noted that Kenya is a strong supporter of multilateralism and a promoter of regional peace and security. “But Kenya is also a country with a global voice. Kenya has always been one of the pillars of peace. Video recording of the media briefing.

Wreath-laying ceremony. During the solemn event held at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument, President Stubb laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afterwards, a wind orchestra performed the national anthems of Finland and Kenya. A minute’s silence was observed in honour of all fallen soldiers. 

Uhuru Gardens is Kenya’s national memorial park. It was established in 1973 to commemorate the country’s independence. It is located on the site where Kenya’s independence was declared at midnight on 12 December 1963.

Meeting with NGOs. During a roundtable discussion, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) shared their views on shaping the future of Kenyan society. Representatives of organisations promoting good governance, media freedom, and the status of women and young people attended the meeting. “We discussed corruption, human rights, violence against women and political participation among young people. We also talked about freedom of the media and the challenges posed by disinformation. An open and active civil society is the cornerstone of a functioning liberal democracy. This must be fostered and developed, said President Stubb. 

Interviews. In the afternoon, President Stubb was interviewed by two Kenyan TV channels, Citizen TV and Nation Media Group. In Kenya, Finnish education and the happiness of Finns are of particular interest. 

State Banquet. President of Kenya William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto hosted a State Banquet at the State House in Nairobi in honour of President Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb. The entire Finnish and the Finnish business delegations participated also attended the dinner, at which both presidents gave speeches. 

Tuesday 13 May, Nairobi

Morning run in the Karura Forest. President Stubb was joined by a group of Kenyan long-distance runners, including Benjamin Limo, winner of the gold medal in the 5,000 metres event at the Helsinki World Championships in 2005. After warming up, the group ran a ten-kilometre route. The trails were muddy in places due to the previous night’s rain, but werw otherwise in good condition. Karura Forest is a protected forest reserve on the outskirts of Nairobi. It covers an area of over 1,000 hectares.

Business seminar. President Stubb opened a seminar organised by Business Finland. The seminar focused on the environment and health sectors.

Public lecture at the University of Nairobi. President Stubb’s lecture covered geopolitics and the changing world order. This was followed by a moderated Q&A session with the audience. 

Matatu. While in Nairobi, the presidential couple tried out a matatu, a minibus which is a popular means of transport for Kenyans. The matatu had been decorated with Finnish motifs by employees at the Finnish Embassy in Nairobi. 

Working lunch. Next, the President attended a working lunch with foreign policy experts, European ambassadors, and representatives of organisations involved in foreign politics. The discussion was moderated by Mr Pirkka Tapiola, the Finnish Ambassador to Kenya.  Topics discussed included political dynamics, regional integration and conflicts in East Africa. 

Nairobi National Polytechnic. In the afternoon, President Stubb visited the Nairobi National Polytechnic, a vocational education and training institution that is participating in a project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The project aims to improve the quality and working life orientation of vocational education. It focuses on apprenticeship training in the automotive and hospitality sectors.

EU-Kenya Business Forum. The President delivered the keynote address at the closing event of the EU-Kenya Business Forum, which also marked the launch of the EuroCham in Kenya. EuroCham is a network of EU and Kenyan companies operating in Kenya. 

Kawangare. In the afternoon, the presidential couple visited, Kawangare, a residential area on the western outskirts of Nairobi.

Their final destination was located on the roof of a seven-storey apartment building with a tall communications antenna. The EU and Finnfund have funded a project in Kawangare to enhance digital connectivity, i.e. to improve access to network connections. Finnfund is a development financier and impact investor whose main owner is the Finnish state. 

The project and its results were presented by the partners involved and local residents.

Ambassador’s reception. To conclude the day, the Finnish Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Pirkka Tapiola, held a formal reception in honour of the state visit. In his speech, the President expressed his gratitude for the excellent arrangements made for the visit, saying that it had been a rewarding and eye-opening experience. 

Wednesday 14 May, Nairobi

The United Nations Office in Nairobi. The United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) is the only UN headquarters office in Africa and the Global South. UNON serves as an administrative support centre for a number of UN organisations and development projects. The office is headed by Director-General, Ms Zainab Bangura. During his visit, the President also met with Ms Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Ms Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Topics discussed included the future of the UN, support for the multilateral system and the significance of the UN Office in Nairobi for Africa and the southern hemisphere.

In his statement, President Stubb noted that the Global South is growing in importance. In a turbulent world, the countries of the Global South have the potential to increase their influence. “The UN is the most important instrument for multilateral cooperation, but it needs reform. The current structure no longer mirrors the distribution of global influence,” he said. The objective should not be merely to streamline the UN administration, but to strengthen the UN.”

Statement of President Stubb at the UN Office in Nairobi.

Interview. Finnish media covered the state visit and at the UN Office President Stubb gave an interview to YLE, the Finnish Public Service Media Company.

After the interview, the presidential couple met Finns working at the UN Office in Nairobi. This took place at the well-known ‘KaribUNi’ sign at the entrance to the UN complex. ‘Karibuni’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘welcome’.

Farewell ceremony. At Nairobi International Airport, President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb were bid farewell by Mr Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, the Kenyan delegation, and the Finnish Embassy staff in Kenya. After concluding his state visit to Kenya, President Stubb, continued his trip to Africa with a state visit to Tanzania.

Read more about the program of the state visits to Kenya and Tanzania: