New envoys pledge to boost ties with Nairobi

President William Ruto yesterday received credentials from five new ambassadors and a high commissioner at State House, Nairobi.

The presentation of credentials marked the first time the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were involved in the ceremony.
The national anthems of the countries were played and their flags hoisted after each ambassador presented their credentials to President Ruto.

Previously, the presentation of credentials was an indoor event. But in the Commonwealth, receiving credentials from a new ambassador is an important State ceremony for the head of State in its formality and substance.

Only after this ceremony are ambassadors recognised as the representatives of their country.

The new ambassadors expressed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties with Kenya for the mutual benefit of their respective peoples.

Those who presented their credentials are ambassadors Anouar Ben Youssef of Tunisia, Patricio Alberto Aguirre Vacchieri (Chile), Luis Alejandro Levit (Argentina) and Romy Sonia Tincopa Grados (Peru).

Others were Ambassador Sabit Subasic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will be based in Egypt, and Ambassador Joan Thomas Edwards, High Commissioner of Jamaica, to be resident in South Africa.

Ambassador Levit said Argentina is keen on strengthening bilateral ties with Kenya, focusing on new opportunities in agriculture to boost food security.

He cited other areas of cooperation as sports, health, nuclear energy and space and exploration.

He welcomed Kenya to open an embassy in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. “For this, you can count on the full cooperation and support of the Argentine government and the hospitality of our people,” he said.

Ambassador Grados said Peru will work with Kenya to strengthen ties in trade, investment, agriculture and tourism, among others, and build on the two nations’ 48 years of diplomatic ties.

“We will also identify areas of collaboration in technology for the benefit of our two peoples,” she said.

She said Peru is committed to strengthening multilateral cooperation in international fora with the aim of finding solutions to global challenges such as climate change, plastic pollution, poverty, food security, gender equality, and peace and security.

Ambassador Subasic of Bosnia Herzegovina said he is committed to enhancing the existing ties between the two nations with a focus on stronger economic ties.

Ambassador Edwards said she intends to advance discussions in areas of cooperation to further boost ties between Kenya and Jamaica.

Apart from trade, investment, and tourism, she said Jamaica intends to strengthen people-to-people relations and seek areas of collaboration in digitisation, knowledge sharing and multilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Youssef said he will strive to enhance ties between Kenya and Tunisia in sectors of common interests, including the economy, health, technology education and military cooperation.

He welcomed Kenya’s plan to open an embassy in Tunisia, saying it will strengthen already excellent relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Vacchieri said Chile is keen on enhancing ties with Kenya in science, technology, trade, mining.and agriculture.
At the same time, the ambassadors commended Kenya for leading the United Nations Security Support Mission in Haiti to restore peace and security in the country, promising their support.

Ambassador Edwards praised Kenya for spearheading the peace mission in Haiti.

“We reaffirm Jamaica’s commitment to support this critical mission,” he said.

Ambassador Levit also commended Kenya for leading a peace mission in Haiti, promising the support of the Argentine government.
Ambassador Grados said Peru appreciates Kenya’s decision to support peace efforts in Haiti to restore regional stability. “Our hope is that its success will benefit the Haiti people, Latin America, and the Caribbean region,” he said.