President William Samoei Ruto on Wednesday September 3, received letters of credence from nine newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Kenya, marking the official start of their diplomatic missions.
The credential ceremony, held at State House Nairobi, is a key tradition in diplomacy that formally recognises the authority of ambassadors to represent their governments in the host country. Each envoy personally presents the letter of credence to the Head of State, a practice that dates back centuries and underscores the sovereignty of nations in international relations.
The nine diplomats who presented their credentials to President Ruto are:
- Tyas Baskoro Her Witjaksono Adji (Indonesia)
- Jaime Alejandro (Spain)
- Riina-Riikka Heikka (Finland)
- Maros Mitrik (Slovakia)
- Joshua Brebner Tabah (Canada)
- Dzmitry Krasouski (Belarus)
- Leon Francois Yandouma (Congo)
- Hakan Akesson (Sweden)
- Gideon Behar (Israel)
In his address, President Ruto welcomed the new envoys and assured them of Kenya’s readiness to deepen partnerships across diverse sectors, including trade, security, climate action, education and technology.
President Ruto in his address aknowledged the appointees and authorised them to pursue the interests of their respective governments within the country.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, do accept your letters of credence and authorise you to pursue the interests of your government within the territory of Kenya by fostering the bond of friendship and promoting to the widest possible within the law the aspirations of the peoples of our nations,” President Ruto said.
He congratulated them on their appointments and expressed optimism that their tenure in Kenya would strengthen mutual cooperation and people-to-people ties.
President Ruto has also placed strong emphasis on economic diplomacy, using foreign relations to open new markets for Kenyan products and attract investment in infrastructure, energy and digital technology.
Also present at the event was Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, senior government officials and embassy representatives.
Kenya maintains long-standing ties with each of the nine countries and the arrival of the new ambassadors signals a renewed push to expand cooperation.
The presentation of credentials comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly positioning itself as a regional hub for diplomacy, trade and technology. Nairobi hosts several international organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, making it a strategic location for global engagement.
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