WHY FINLAND'S PRESIDENT HAS VISITED KENYA

Finland's President, alongside his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stub , have been in the country since their arrival on Monday, 12,May.
The two were received by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

While acknowledging the good relationship between Kenya and Finland, Stubb express his shock since no President have ever made an effort of visiting.

“First, there has never been a state visit by a Finnish President, which I was quite baffled about because we do have good relations for over 60 years and we've been quite close countries," he expressed.

He further revealed his meeting with President Ruto in the Switzerland Peace conference, that's where he relayed his desire in visiting.

“Secondly, I met your President at a peace conference in Switzerland last summer and I said can I come and knock on your and he invited me,” he said.

The Finnish President, continued appraising Kenya terming it as among one of the states that would determine the direction of the new world order.

“I think we are witnessing a change of the world order, a similar moment that leaders of 1918, 1945, 1960s, 1989 and so I do think that Kenya is going to be one of the swing states deciding which direction the world is going to tilt and I wanted to come here and learn,” Stabb enhanced his need to benchmark with the 'swing state'.

The head Finland furthered that the two states share common similarities such as the development patterns, demographics and moral values.

“It is very solid. There are certain strange similarities. Finland began as a poor country and one thing led to another and we have become a fairly successful country. Kenya as well, since independence in 1960s has emerged and developed. Demographically, we are different; we are 5.6 million people and you are 56 million. We have done a lot of cooperation before, usually on development, but now it is much more business, the values base is very similar," Stubb noted.