Haiti, Kosovo, embassy in Mexico feature as Ruto receives credentials

President William Ruto on Wednesday received credentials from five designate envoys at State House Nairobi.

The new diplomats are ambassadors Enrique Javier Ochoa Martinez (Mexico), Danijela Cubrilo Martic (Serbia), Morakot Janemathukorn (Thailand), Giovanni Conti (San Marino) and High Commissioner Mahlaba Mamba (Eswatini) resident in Addis Ababa.

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Speaking at the intervals of receiving each of the envoys’ letter of credence, President Ruto assured them of bolstering Kenya’s relations with each of their countries in key areas of mutual interest.

Mexico Ambassador Enrique Javier Ochoa Martinez said his country will continue to cooperate with Kenya bilaterally and multilaterally, further noting the Mexican government acknowledges Kenya’s decision to lead a multinational security support mission in Haiti, and looks forward to its success.

Kenya and Haiti on Friday signed a reciprocal deal to deploy some 1,000 police officers to lead the UN-backed mission in the Caribbean nation, which is struggling with gang violence. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and President Ruto held talks in Nairobi and discussed what is needed to “enable the fast-tracking of the deployment.” The courts in Kenya have halted the process, declaring the deployment as unconstitutional.

The Mexican envoy also spoke of bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food security, adding that they are ready to collaborate in other development projects.

Ambassador Martinez also requested the President for Kenya to consider opening an embassy in Mexico City to deepen bilateral relations

Serbia’s Danijela Cubrilo Martic who is succeeding long-serving Ambassador Dragan Zupanjevac, said she looks forward to building bilateral ties, adding that they hope to host President Ruto in Belgrade soon.

She called for the signing of various legal instruments, including some that allow for the employment of Kenyans in Serbia.

Ambassador Martic further brought about the territorial integrity issue, thanking for respecting her sovereigninity.

“Serbia is sincerely grateful to Kenya for not supporting the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo in respect to UN Charter and International law and legally binding UNSC resolution 1244.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state and continues to claim it as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, although some 110 countries recognize her.  Russia, China and five European Union countries – Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania and Greece, don’t recognize her independence, and have halted its path to EU membership.

President Ruto’s close contact with high-level officials from Kosovo has raised concerns from Serbia on Kenya’s recognition of Kosovo.

In September 2023, during the UNGA 78th session, President Ruto and President Vjosa Osmani of Kosovo met in New York, and expressed Nairobi’s readiness to officially recognize the independence of Kosovo.

In December, the two leaders met again on the sidelines of the 28th session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai.

Kenya’s move towards recognising Kosovo gained momentum earlier last year when Nairobi officially recognised Kosovo passports.

Thailand envoy Morakot Janemathukorn said she is looking forward to deepening relations with Kenya, including the agricultural projects in Nyeri county.

San Marino sent its first Ambassador to Kenya, Giovani Conti, who noted that the move is a start of good relations. President Ruto noted that the Ambassador has a great opportunity to create the foundation of relations between the two states.

Eswatini non-resident High Commissioner Mahlaba Mamba noted that albeit from Addis Ababa, he is committed to deepen bilateral ties through the Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia George Orina.