Finnish President Alexander Stubb arrived in Kenya on Monday morning for a three-day state visit, marking a historic first as no Finnish head of state had previously made an official visit to the East African nation. President Stubb, accompanied by his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb, was warmly received by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Speaking on the significance of his visit, President Stubb expressed surprise that, despite more than 60 years of strong bilateral ties, Kenya had never hosted a Finnish President. “First, there has never been a state visit by a Finnish President, which I was quite baffled about because we do have good relations for over 60 years and we’ve been quite close countries,” Stubb noted.
The idea for the visit was sparked by an encounter between President Stubb and his Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, at a peace conference in Switzerland last summer. “I said, can I come and knock on your door? And he invited me,” Stubb shared.
Beyond diplomatic formalities, President Stubb said his visit is also motivated by a deeper interest in Kenya’s role in the evolving global landscape. He described Kenya as a “swing state” in the emerging new world order, drawing comparisons to historical turning points like 1918, 1945, the 1960s, and 1989. “I do think that Kenya is going to be one of the swing states deciding which direction the world is going to tilt, and I wanted to come here and learn,” he explained.
President Stubb also highlighted the shared values and development paths of Finland and Kenya. Despite significant differences in demographics—Finland’s population of 5.6 million compared to Kenya’s 56 million—the two nations share similar values and aspirations. “Finland began as a poor country… and we have become fairly successful. Kenya, since independence in the 1960s, has emerged and developed,” he observed.
The Finnish leader emphasized a shift in bilateral cooperation from development aid to business-oriented engagement, rooted in mutual respect and shared democratic values.
Stubb’s visit is expected to strengthen the ties between Finland and Kenya, paving the way for enhanced cooperation in areas such as trade, education, and climate action.
