Finland President To Visit Kawangware During State Visit To Kenya
The visit will take place on May 12-14, 2025, to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Kenya.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The informal settlement of Kawangware, located between Lavington and Dagoretti in Nairobi, is expected to receive an international guest; this is one of the places pinpointed by the government of Finland as one President Alexander Stubb will visit.
Stubb, the President of the Republic of Finland, and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, will pay a state visit to the Republic of Kenya. The visit will take place on May 12-14, 2025, to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Kenya.
According to a statement, the state visit will begin in Nairobi on Monday, May 12, with a meeting with President William Ruto.
President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb, March 1, 2024. /FINLAND IN KENYA
"The discussions between the Presidents will focus on the bilateral relations between Finland and Kenya, global challenges and their impact in Africa and Europe, and cooperation in support of the multilateral system," the statement read in part.
A wreath-laying ceremony at Uhuru Gardens will follow the talks. In the evening, President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will host the presidential couple at a state banquet.
During his stay, President Stubb will meet representatives of local NGOs and foreign policy experts. The main topics of discussion will be regional dynamics and social development.
President Stubb will visit the University of Nairobi (UoN), where he will give a speech on geopolitics and the transformation of the multilateral order, followed by a discussion with students.
"In addition, the President will attend the closing event of the EU [European Union]-Kenya Business Forum, where he will deliver a keynote speech. The President’s agenda also features a business seminar organised by Business Finland, focusing on the built environment and the health sector," added the statement.
The official programme includes a visit to a technical education institution and a company offering vocational training, both involved in a project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to strengthen the quality and labour market relevance of vocational training.
Furthermore, President Stubb will also visit the residential area of Kawangware, where he will learn about a programme funded by the EU and Finnfund to enhance digital connectivity.
During the visit, he will also meet with the Director-General of the United Nations (UN) Office in Nairobi, UNON, and the Executive Directors of UNEP and UN-Habitat. Discussions will cover topics such as the future of the UN and support for the multilateral system, as well as the role of the UN Office in Nairobi.
The Finnish Ambassador to Kenya will host a formal reception in honour of the state visit.
President Stubb will be accompanied on the state visit by Member of Parliament, Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Kenya Saara-Sofia Sirén, and Member of Parliament, Vice Chair of the Finnish Parliament Group on Global Issues Inka Hopsu, as well as a Finnish business delegation with representatives from a wide range of business sectors.
The visit of President Stubb is the first presidential visit from Finland to Kenya. This comes barely a month after His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited Kenya.
