Kawangware area in Nairobi, not a normal leafy suburb area expected to be visited by a state leader, has been pinpointed as one of the places Finland President Alexander Stubb will be visiting.
President Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb will pay Kenya a State Visit from May 12 to 14, in a historic first-time visit by a Finnish president to Kenya.
While Kenya and Finland enjoy diplomatic ties rooted in Kenya’s independence in 1963, a Finnish President has never visited Kenya. Engagements between the two countries have primarily been through ministerial visits and development cooperation rather than high-level state visits.
However, President Stubb is about to make history as he will be visiting Kenya to mark an important milestone between the two nations, to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.
"President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb will pay a state visit to the Republic of Kenya. The visit will take place on 12–14 May 2025 to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Kenya," a statement by the Office of the President of Finland read in part.
The highly anticipated visit will begin in Nairobi on Monday, May 12, where President Stubb will meet President William Ruto to hold discussions on the bilateral relations between Finland and Kenya, global challenges and their impact on Africa and Europe, and cooperation in support of the multilateral system.
The talks will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Uhuru Gardens, after which the two will be hosted by President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto for a state banquet on Monday evening.
President Stubb will then proceed to the University of Nairobi, where he will deliver a speech on geopolitics and the transformation of the multilateral order, then proceed to the EU-Kenya Business Forum.
After a series of other official meetings involving the economic relations between Kenya and Finland, President Stubb will visit the residential area of Kawangware to learn about a program run by his government.
"The President will also visit the residential area of Kawangware, where he will learn about a program funded by the EU and Finnfund to enhance digital connectivity," the statement continued.
The President will also meet the Director-General of the UN Office in Nairobi (UNON) and the Executive Directors of UNEP and UN-Habitat to discuss the future of the UN and support for the multilateral system, as well as the role of the UN Office in Nairobi.
The visit is aimed at cementing the already thriving relationship between Kenya and Finland. The visit comes barely a month after King Willem-Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands visited Kenya.
