The event marked the official start of their diplomatic missions in Kenya, with President Ruto describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in strengthening relations with their respective countries.

“We value the strong friendships that we share with your countries. Together, we can drive meaningful progress and ensure prosperity for our people,” President Ruto said.

The Head of State assured the envoys that his government is ready to work closely with them in deepening bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

“Kenya remains committed to building strong, respectful and beneficial relations with your countries. We will continue to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, security, and global issues that matter to our people,” he added.

The envoys, in turn, pledged to build on existing ties and advance mutual benefits for both sides.

Those who presented their credentials included Ambassadors Tyas Baskoro Her Witjaksono Adji of Indonesia, Jaime Alejandro of Spain, Riina-Riikka Heikka of Finland, Maroš Mitrík of Slovakia, Dzmitry Krasouski of Belarus, Leon Francois Yandouma of Congo, Håkan Åkesson of Sweden, Gideon Behar of Israel, and Joshua Brebner Tabah, the High Commissioner of Canada.

Ambassador Adji of Indonesia, a seasoned diplomat with more than three decades of service, highlighted the potential for growth in several sectors.“By working together in the blue economy, mining, transportation and defence, among others, we can unlock new opportunities and contribute to a just and harmonious world,” he said.

Ambassador Alejandro of Spain, who has served in countries such as Chile, Israel, South Africa and Mozambique, promised to strengthen Kenya-Spain relations further.

Finland’s envoy, Ambassador Heikka, who has previously served in Nepal and held postings in Washington, Vienna and Brussels, described relations between Kenya and Finland as excellent, active, comprehensive and ambitious.

“During my tenure, I will do the utmost to uphold and deepen our relations in a meaningful way,” she said.

Slovakia’s Ambassador Mitrik said his focus would be on pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnerships, drawing from his experience in development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Canadian High Commissioner Tabah noted that economic prosperity remained a shared goal.

“The well-being of our people is linked to the strength of our economies, and this is the top priority of your government and my own,” he told Ruto.

He added that he is keen to promote private sector collaboration to unlock new opportunities.

Ambassador Krasouski of Belarus, an economist with a background in investment and privatisation, pledged to expand cooperation in trade, education and cultural exchange.

From Congo, Ambassador Yandouma, a long-serving soldier and defence attaché, emphasised the importance of stronger defence and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Sweden’s Ambassador Åkesson underlined the depth of Kenya-Sweden relations, which date back over 60 years.

“Kenya and Sweden have marked over 60 years of strong relations. We continue to work hand in hand at multilateral forums to promote peace and prosperity in line with the United Nations Charter,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador Behar, who has been deeply involved in climate change and sustainability initiatives, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Kenya on global challenges.

“These are areas of growing urgency that call for bold joint action,” he said.