President William Ruto has bid farewell to Italian Ambassador to Kenya, Roberto Natali, whose tour of duty in the country has come to an end.

In a statement on Monday, September 29, 2025, President Ruto praised the long-standing friendship between Kenya and Italy, noting that it has remained strong for six decades.

He pointed out that the partnership has grown steadily, covering areas such as trade and investment, education, health, agriculture, culture, and people-to-people relations.

“Kenya and Italy have had excellent diplomatic relations for six decades anchored in trade and investment, education, health, agriculture, culture and people-to-people relations. Kenya stands ready to work with Italy to implement the Mattei Plan for Africa, which promotes partnerships in energy, infrastructure and health,” Ruto said.

The President commended Ambassador Natali for his role in strengthening the bond between the two nations. He noted that during Natali’s tenure, cooperation projects in energy and infrastructure gained momentum, while cultural and academic exchanges continued to benefit many Kenyans.

“Bid farewell to Ambassador Roberto Natali of Italy, State House Nairobi, whose tour of duty in our country has come to an end. Congratulated him for strengthening the ties between our two nations and wished him well in his future endeavour,” Ruto added.

Kenya and Italy have enjoyed close relations since the early 1960s, with Italy playing a key role in supporting development projects. The Malindi Space Centre, long-standing health partnerships, and collaborations in higher education stand out as symbols of the strong bilateral cooperation.

Mattei plan for Africa

Ruto emphasised that the two countries will continue to deepen their cooperation under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. The plan, championed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, seeks to build equal partnerships with African countries, focusing on energy, infrastructure, health, and sustainable development.

Kenya has welcomed the initiative, seeing it as a way to boost investment, create jobs, and expand opportunities for citizens. The President said Nairobi is ready to partner with Rome to make the plan a success, pointing out that such cooperation aligns with Kenya’s development priorities.

A series of farewells

Ambassador Natali’s departure comes just weeks after Ruto also bid farewell to British High Commissioner Neil Wigan at State House, Nairobi. Wigan, who served in Kenya for two years, left in August to take up a senior role at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.

Last year, Ruto also bid farewell to U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman, who resigned following changes in the White House administration. Whitman was praised for elevating the Kenya–U.S. relationship, which was marked by stronger trade, security, and democratic ties.