President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will undertake a state visit to Finland from June 10-11, shortly after wrapping up official duties in South Africa focused on enhancing Kenya’s global ties and economic collaboration.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, will host the visit.
The Finnish President’s Office announced on June 2 that the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations, boost trade and investment, and improve collaboration on international matters.
Talks will additionally address reforms to the multilateral system, peace mediation initiatives, and United Nations framework development.
The statement further mentions issues affecting Africa and Europe, including geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
On June 11, both leaders will attend a trade promotion event for Finnish and Kenyan interests at the Nokia Executive Experience Centre in Espoo.
The first ladies will engage in a separate program during the visit, including visits to a gaming company to explore technology opportunities for women, the Oodi Central Library, and the New Children’s Hospital.
They will also gain insights into Women’s Health Hub Finland, a national innovation network dedicated to improving women’s health.
Additionally, their itinerary includes a stop at Revvity, a health technology company specializing in pregnancy and newborn screening.
The visit is anticipated to create opportunities for Finnish businesses looking to enter Kenya’s developing technology and manufacturing industries.
Concurrently, Kenyan enterprises are likely to seek partnerships that would allow them to access Finland’s expertise in education, health technology, and clean energy.
President Ruto will also meet with Kenyan diaspora members in Finland before the visit concludes, discussing investment prospects and their contribution to Kenya’s development plans.