President William Ruto and First Lady Mama Rachel officially received at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland by President Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb at the start of a two-day State Visit on June 10 /PCSPresident William Ruto begins a two-day state visit to Finland Wednesday in what is shaping up to be a major diplomatic and economic push aimed at deepening Kenya’s ties with the Nordic nation while advancing Nairobi’s influence on global governance, peace diplomacy and trade.
The visit, hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, comes a year after Stubb’s landmark trip to Kenya and marks the first state visit by a Kenyan president to Finland in nearly four decades.
Accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, senior government officials and business leaders, Ruto is expected to use the visit to strengthen bilateral relations, attract investment and position Kenya as a key African partner in Europe’s economic and geopolitical agenda.
The visit begins with a ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.
According to a statement from the office of the president of Finland, the public can watch the ceremony from the Market Square from approximately 10am onwards.
After the ceremony, high-level talks will take place at the Presidential Palace covering a broad range of issues, including trade and investment, regional security, multilateral cooperation and reforms of international institutions.
The discussions are also expected to focus on the future of the United Nations system, mediation efforts in global conflicts and regional developments in both Africa and Europe.
Kenya has increasingly sought a larger role in international diplomacy, particularly through its advocacy for reforms in global financial and governance structures.
The Middle East crisis, African security challenges and peacebuilding initiatives are also expected to feature prominently during the talks.
Beyond diplomacy, trade and economic cooperation will be at the heart of the visit.
Ruto will seek to expand economic ties with Finland by promoting Kenya as an investment destination and exploring opportunities in technology, innovation, renewable energy and digital transformation.
Wednesday’s programme also includes a luncheon hosted by the Mayor of Helsinki, Daniel Sazonov, at Helsinki City Hall, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hietaniemi cemetery, and a meeting with the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, at the Parliament Building.
Later, President Stubb and President Ruto will take part in a high-level panel discussion on the UN and peace mediation, titled “The Promise of Peace”, at the Government Banquet Hall.
The day will end with a state banquet hosted by President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb at the Presidential Palace.
On Thursday, June 11, the visit moves beyond Helsinki to the coastal city of Naantali.
The two will participate in an event aimed at promoting trade between Finland and Kenya at the Nokia Executive Experience Center in Espoo.
In addition to the presidents, the participants include representatives of Finnish and Kenyan companies.
In the afternoon, the programme will continue in Naantali, on the south-west coast of Finland. President Ruto will take part in a panel discussion at the Kultaranta Talks together with President Stubb.
President Ruto is the first African head of state to participate in the Kultaranta Talks, an annual foreign and security policy forum, held at the presidential summer residence Kultaranta.
In Helsinki, before his return, President Ruto will meet with members of the Kenyan community in Finland.
The spouses of the presidents have a separate programme in addition to the presidential couples’ joint programme.
President Alexander Stubb with President William Ruto inspect a guard of honor at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki upon arrival for the start of his two-day State Visit on June 10, 2026/PCSIn Helsinki, Innes-Stubb and Rachel will visit a gaming company to discuss women’s opportunities in technology companies, as well as Helsinki Central Library Oodi and the New Children’s Hospital.
In Turku, the spouses of the presidents will be introduced to the activities of Women’s Health Hub Finland, a nationwide innovation network focused on women’s health, and visit the health technology company Revvity, which specialises in prenatal and newborn screening.
During the state visit, the Kenyan presidential couple will be accompanied by members of the Kenyan government and representatives of the business community.
President Stubb made a state visit to Kenya in May 2025.
The previous state visit from Kenya to Finland took place in 1987
President William Ruto shakes hands with senior Finnish officials upon arrival at the President Palace in Helsinki on June 10, 2026/PCS
