Your Excellency,
I have the honour to present the compliments of my Head of State, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and the People of Sweden to you personally and through you to the people of Kenya.
It gives me great pleasure to note the longstanding and excellent relations that exist between our two countries. I will do my utmost to promote our relations in various fields.
In recent years, our relations have intensified, resulting in substantially enhanced bilateral cooperation, i.e. reforms in agriculture, water, land and environment, slum upgrading and urban planning. Sweden also supports reforms in democratic governance, including human rights and justice.
Kenya is facing major challenges. Hopefully the long standing efforts to present a new Constitution will produce results soon, one which will serve all Kenyans; men, women and children alike, and enable thorough reforms in areas such as the electoral system and the justice sector.
As an old friend and ally, Sweden would like to carry on working side by side with Kenya to promote the reform process, which together with a continued wide democratic space are necessary for economic and social development.
Allow me to take this opportunity to mention that there is an increased interest from Swedish companies to do business in Kenya. There is definitely a potential for further increased trade between our countries, which I will actively promote, and also for Swedish investments in Kenya. The Swedish companies´ interest in Kenya is linked to how the reform process and rule of law are developing.
Sweden currently holds the rotating European Union Presidency, representing 27 member states. To combat climate change and reach a new international climate agreement in December is one of the top priorities. The EU and Kenya share this challenge. The EU underlines the importance of a prompt implementation of the National Accord, which is critical for reconciliation, nation-building, development and prevention of further conflict in Kenya. To put an end to impunity and strengthening accountability are vital components in this process. I would like to reiterate the EU’s willingness to support the reform process. Sweden appreciates and attaches great importance to Kenya’s role in the region and Your Excellency’s own commitment to promote peace and stability in the region. Although Sweden is geographically very far away, we are also engaged in this work. We hope to continue to cooperate in this regard, in particular in supporting the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia.
I now have the honour and privilege to present to Your Excellency the Letter of Recall of my predecessor and my Credentials by which His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, has appointed me to be the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden, to the Republic of Kenya.