Kenyan presidential couple to pay a state visit to Finland

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 39/2026
2 June 2026

The President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, and his spouse, Rachel Ruto, will pay a state visit to Finland from 10 to 11 June 2026. The visit will be hosted by the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb.

The main themes of the visit will be deepening bilateral relations between Finland and Kenya, strengthening cooperation between the two countries in international contexts, reforming the multilateral system and promoting trade between Finland and Kenya.

On Wednesday 10 June, President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb will receive the presidential couple of Kenya at a welcoming ceremony held in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. Members of the public can watch the ceremony from the Market Square from approximately 10.00 onwards.

After the ceremony, official discussions will take place at the Presidential Palace. In addition to bilateral relations, the topics will cover multilateral cooperation, the development of the UN system and mediation, regional issues in Africa and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and the promotion of trade between Finland and Kenya. Following the discussions, the presidents will hold a joint press conference.

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 11 June, the presidents will participate in an event aimed at promoting trade between Finland and Kenya. The event will be held 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. In Helsinki, Mrs Innes-Stubb and Mrs Ruto 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.