Russia Ambassador to Kenya Vsevolod Tkachenko and Japan’s Hiroshi Matsuura were among diplomats who presented their credentials to President William Ruto on Wednesday at State House Nairobi.
The others are Moravia Peralta Hernandez (Venezuela), Alfred Musemuna (Zambia) and Andris Razans (Latvia).
Ambassador Tkachenko succeeded Dmitry Maksimychev in August, while Hiroshi takes over from Ken Okaniwa, who completed his tour of duty in October.
The appointment of Tkachenko who has extensive experience in Russia-Africa relations and is fluent in Swahili is seen as part of Moscow’s efforts to intensify its presence in Africa amid hostility from the US and Europe.
The envoy has previously worked as Russia’s ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union from 2014 to 2019. He was also the head of the Department of Africa in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2020.
Ambassador Hiroshi has previously worked Japan’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in the UK, Chief Negotiator for Japan on the UK Japan Free Trade Agreement in his role as Deputy Assistant Minister, Deputy Director-General for Economic Affairs and Ambassador for Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He has also been a minister at the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia (2012-14) and the United Kingdom (2014–17); Director, Global Issues Cooperation Division (2010–12) and Director, International Economy Division (2009–10).
