Kenya has vowed to strengthen its collaborations with Finland in key areas, including education, global peace, and multilateral cooperation.
Speaking during a press briefing at State House when he hosted Finnish President Alexander Stubb at State House, President William Ruto affirmed that education is the cornerstone of Kenya’s development agenda and a key area for deepening bilateral ties.
Recognising Finland as one of the global leaders in education, Ruto expressed the need to deepen collaboration so as to support the ongoing transition process to a full Competency-Based Education system (CBC).
“We look forward to strengthening existing collaborations and exploring new opportunities to elevate our cooperation to a strategic level,” he stated.
The two leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation in the sector through expanded partnerships in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), digital learning, and academic research.
Ruto welcomed Finland’s expertise in delivering high-quality education and emphasised Kenya’s intention to leverage this to empower youth and build a skilled workforce for the future.
“A cooperation framework will soon be concluded, focusing on basic, technical, vocational, and higher education to equip our youth with the skills needed in a digital economy,” he said.
During this visit, President Stubb will tour one of our technical training institutions to witness firsthand the transformative impact of technical and vocational training on our youth.
Beyond education, the leaders underscored their shared commitment to peace, security, and international cooperation.
Ruto highlighted Kenya’s leadership in peacekeeping and mediation in the Horn of Africa and called for reform of global governance institutions to make them more inclusive and effective.
According to the Head of State, Finland’s principled stance on democratic values, climate action, and multilateralism complements the country’s development goals.
He praised Finland’s support for multilateralism and democratic values, highlighting shared efforts in promoting international peace and security.
Both leaders underscored the importance of robust international institutions and frameworks in addressing global challenges, such as climate change, inequality, and geopolitical tensions.
During the event, the two leaders witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on political consultations and peace mediation and conflict resolution.
“Our respective teams will fast-track cooperation frameworks in education, tourism, and labour recruitment frameworks that will foster knowledge exchange, skills development, institutional partnerships, and deeper people-to-people ties.”
Ruto disclosed that they have concluded high-level bilateral discussions focused on deepening cooperation in education, health, renewable energy, trade and investment, peace and security, multilateral engagement, and climate action.
Ruto and Stubb also agreed to strengthen partnerships in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation.
The president acknowledged the alignment between Finland’s climate diplomacy and Kenya’s ambition to achieve 100 per cent clean energy by 2030.
On health, the president commended Finland’s exemplary universal healthcare system and updated Stubb on Kenya’s progress under Taifa Care.
“We agreed to share experiences and explore joint efforts to address health challenges and improve service deliver,” Ruto said in a statement.
by FELIX KIPKEMOI
