Presidential aspirant Eliud Owalo on Wednesday evening joined members of Kenya's diplomatic community at a farewell cocktail honouring five outgoing European ambassadors who are concluding their diplomatic assignments in the country.
The reception celebrated the service of H.E. Dr. Christian Fellner (Austria), H.E. Mr. Peter Maddens (Belgium), H.E. Mr. Savvas Vladimirou (Cyprus), H.E. Mr. Arnaud Suquet (France), and H.E. Mrs. Henriette Geiger, the European Union Ambassador to Kenya.
In a statement after the event, Owalo thanked the diplomats for their contribution to strengthening relations between Kenya and their respective countries and institutions.
"Their tenure has contributed to strengthening the longstanding ties between Kenya and their respective countries and institutions. I wish the esteemed diplomats every success in their future," Owalo said.
The farewell comes at a significant moment in Kenya-European relations, with 2026 marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and the European Union. Over the past five decades, the partnership has evolved from development cooperation into a broad strategic relationship covering trade, investment, climate action, education, innovation, governance, peace and security.
One of the key milestones achieved during Ambassador Henriette Geiger's tenure was the implementation of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which provides Kenyan exports with duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market, reinforcing the EU's position as one of Kenya's largest trading and development partners.
French Ambassador Arnaud Suquet, who also completed his posting, leaves after four years marked by strengthened cultural diplomacy, youth engagement and preparations for the landmark Africa Forward Summit 2026, hosted in Nairobi. In a heartfelt farewell message published this week, Suquet described Kenya as a country that had become "home," reflecting on his experiences learning Kiswahili, engaging with local communities and supporting education, sports and the creative economy.
Throughout their assignments, the outgoing ambassadors worked closely with the Government of Kenya, the private sector and civil society on initiatives ranging from trade and investment to renewable energy, climate resilience, education, humanitarian assistance and regional security cooperation. The European Union continues to support programmes in research, innovation, skills development, sustainable infrastructure and humanitarian response across Kenya.
Owalo said the diplomats had played an important role in deepening Kenya's international partnerships and fostering mutual cooperation, expressing confidence that the strong relations established during their tenure would continue to grow under their successors.
The farewell reception underscored the enduring friendship between Kenya and its European partners, as the country continues to strengthen diplomatic and economic engagement with Europe while expanding opportunities for trade, investment and development cooperation.