Ambassador Maurice Makoloo on January 13 became the first Kenyan envoy to be accredited to Slovenia
Amb Makoloo presented his letter of credence to Slovenia President Dr.Nataša Pirc Musar as the first Kenya Ambassador to Slovenia resident in Vienna, Austria.
President Musar hailed this as a historic achievement, which adds fresh momentum in advancing the 20 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Embassy said in a statement.
“Kenya and Slovenia have partnered at several levels, including supporting each other for and during their respective terms as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. Slovenia is currently serving as a member having campaigned under the slogan ‘Building Trust. Securing Future’, a message that was endorsed by Kenya,” the statement added.
The two discussed several issues of mutual interest, including strengthening and deepening trade relations; technology and skills cooperation; enhancing people to people connection among others.
“In addition, the President hailed Kenya’s efforts towards finding sustainable regional and international peace and security and its continued leadership and contribution towards addressing climate change, adding that Slovenia as a current non-permanent member of the UN Security Council has prioritised finding sustainable peace and security in a manner that respects International law,” the statement added.
Noting that Kenya hosts one of the four offices of the United Nations, the two agreed on the need to reinvigorate multilateralism.
SLOVENIA FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT
In November last year, Slovenia Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon visited Kenya as part of her Africa tour in the first Slovenian high-level visit to the country.
Minister Fajon told Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi that Slovenia is interested in establishing a non-residential diplomatic mission for Kenya from the Slovenian Embassy in Addis Ababa. She and the Trade Minister agreed to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Fajon and Mudavadi, discussed the upgrading of the dialogue between the two countries and proposed that political consultations be held in early 2025.
“I informed the Prime Cabinet Secretary that Slovenia would like to cover Kenya on a diplomatic and consular level from the Embassy in Addis Ababa and also strengthen the political dialogue between the two countries,” said Minister Fajon.
November 3, 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Kenya, although Minister Fajon was only the first high-level Slovenian representative to visit Kenya.
Amb. Makoloo was accompanied to Ljubljana by Second Secretary Jimmy Titus Ng’ota in a series of meetings with other senior government officials in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister respectively.
The ambassador also held discussions with ICPE Enterprises centered on facilitating collaborations on the use of technology for inter-alia water management, agricultural production and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation with Kenya’s world renown tech-innovation sectors.
He also visited a biotech company, JAFRAL Biosolutions, which specializes in the production of high quality products for use in human and animal healthcare and the environment.
On the 15th January, the ambassador joined colleague ambassadors in the annual convening of the diplomatic corps by the Slovenian President and Prime Minister.
The Kenya Embassy in Vienna is now accredited to Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and Ukraine respectively.
