Kenya–Sweden relations

Kenya – Sweden relations

Kenya	Sweden

Kenya–Sweden relations refer to the current and historical relationship between Kenya and Sweden.

Political relations

• 1921 - A career consulate is established for British East Africa, and a vice-consulate is established in Mombasa.^[1]
• 1962 - The consulate is upgraded to a consulate general
• 1963 - Kenya gains independence, and Sweden recognizes it immediately.^[2][3]
• 1964 - Sweden appoints Otto Rathsman as ambassador to Kenya, and the consulate general becomes an embassy.^[4]
• 1969 - Sweden supports African liberation movements, followed by Finland and Norway.^[5]
• 1992 - Kenya introduces a multi-party democratic system.^[6]
• 1994 - Nordic countries provide $1,500,000,000 in humanitarian aid to Southern Africa over the previous 25 years, with 40% directly supporting liberation movements.
• 2007 - A Swedish Trade Office in Nairobi is established, overseeing multiple East African markets.^[7]
• 2016 - Sweden aims to strengthen Kenya democratic institutions at national and local levels.
• 2016 - Sweden focuses on strengthening Kenyan civil society, media, and key institutions.
• 2022 - President Uhuru Kenyatta makes an international presidential trip to Stockholm for the Stockholm+50 International environment meeting.^[8]
• 2023 - Ambassador Diana Kiambuthi welcomes Kenyan participants of a welcome meeting in Stockholm.^[9]
• 2024 - Kenya’s Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale meets Sweden’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Jan Knutsson. Both nations reaffirm their commitment to security collaboration in Africa.^[10]

Military relations

• 2015 - Sweden acknowledges Kenya’s key role in regional peace and stability.^[11]
• 2016 - Sweden aims to take conflict prevention initiatives in Kenyan society.^[6]
• 2016 - Radicalization, terrorism, and crime continue to impact Kenyan security.
• 2016 - Sweden attempts to help control illegal arms flows.
• 2021 - Nordic countries pledge $4,960,000,000 over the previous 9 years for African peace & security efforts.^[12]
• 2021 - Sweden focuses on APSA, WPS, conflict prevention, and human rights in Africa’s fragile regions.
• 2024 - Kenya and Sweden discuss strengtheninh peacekeeping efforts in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa.^[10]
• 2024 - Kenya and Sweden review the EU's role in Somalia post-ATMIS, and its impact on regional security.

Economic relations

• 1973 - Kenya and Sweden sign a double tax avoidance agreement.^[13][3]
• 2006 - Nordic countries support African exports via the Aid for Trade Initiative.^[14]
• 2009 - Swedfund opens a regional office in Nairobi.
• 2010 - East African Common Market takes effect, boosting international trade.
• 2012 - Trade between Kenya and Sweden increases by 310% over 9 years.
• 2012 - Kenya exports €47,340,000 to Sweden, and Sweden exports €61,000,000 to Kenya.
• 2012 - Over 50 Swedish multinational corporations operate in Kenya, with the majority managing their African operations from Nairobi.
• 2012 - Sweden provides €8,700,000 in humanitarian aid and €50,200,000 in development support to Kenya.^[15]
• 2014 - Kenya is reclassified as a lower middle-income country.^[6]
• 2015 - Swedish trade with Africa is valued at $4,900,000,000.^[16]
• 2016 - Sweden aims to transition from an aid relationship with Kenya to a broader economic one.
• 2016 - Sweden attempts to promote productive employment for women and the youth.
• 2025 - Kenyan exports to Sweden include coffee, cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Swedish exports to Kenya include telecom equipment, paper, machinery, medical equipment, and vehicles.

Cultural relations

• 1970 - Nordic countries provide major humanitarian aid to liberation movements in Southern Africa.^[17]
• 2015 - Sweden shows support for Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals for economic, social, and political development.^[11]
• 2016 - Sweden aims to strengthen natural resource and ecosystem management in Kenya.^[6]
• 2016 - Kenyan and Swedish government cooperate in governance, human rights, gender equality, trade, and urban development.
• 2016 - Sweden attempts to improve Kenya access to water, sanitation, and social protection.
• 2023 - Networking and knowledge-sharing between Kenyan exporters and Swedish businesses is encouraged.^[9]
• 2025 - Sweden's strong reputation in Kenya boosts the businesses there.^[3]

Diplomatic missions

Kenya has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Nairobi.

• 
  Embassy of Kenya in Stockholm

See also

• Foreign relations of Kenya
• Foreign relations of Sweden

References

1. "Consulate Nairobi (1921 – 1964)" [Consulate Nairobi (1921 – 1964)] (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
2. "Kenyas självständighetsdag" [Kenya Independence Day]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1963-12-13. p. A23. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
3. "Business and trade with Sweden". Sweden Abroad. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
4. "Budapest och Bukarest får svenska ambassader" [Budapest and Bucharest get Swedish embassies]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1964-02-01. p. 8A. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
5. "Report of the conference Nordic Solidarity with the Liberation Struggles in Southern Africa, and Challenges for Democratic Partnerships into the 21st Century, 11-14 February, 1999". Robben Island Museum; Mayibuye Centre; Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. 1999. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. in Sweden, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (2016). "Strategy for Sweden's development cooperation with Kenya 2016–2020". government.se.
7. "Export to Kenya | Expand locally| Business Sweden". www.business-sweden.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
8. Wanja, Claire (2022-06-02). "Uhuru joins world leaders at Stockholm+50 conference". KBC. Archived from the original on 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
9. "Kenya and Sweden Strengthen Trade Relations through Open Trade Gate Sweden Training Program – Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Stockholm". 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
10. Kanyi, Timothy (2024-06-10). "Kenya, Sweden to strengthen bilateral defence relations". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
11. [1] Archived 2015-02-02 at archive.today. Sweden Sees Great Future For Kenya. Retrieved on 2 February 2015.
12. De Coning, Cedric; Muvumba Sellström, Angela (2023). A shared commitment : African-Nordic peace and security cooperation : a report from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI). Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt; Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
13. [2] Archived 2017-02-05 at the Wayback Machine. Trade relations between Sweden and Kenya. Retrieved on 2 February 2015.
14. Levin, Jörgen; Abu Hatab, Assem; Karingi, Stephen (2023). Unlocking Africa's trade potential : promises and pitfalls of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
15. [3] Archived 2017-02-05 at the Wayback Machine. Swedish Development Cooperation with Kenya. Retrieved on 2 February 2015.
16. Mutasa, Charles (2018), "Introduction: Inspirations and Hesitations in Africa's Relations with External Actors", Africa and the World, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–23, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62590-4_1, ISBN 978-3-319-62589-8, retrieved 2025-02-26
17. "Liberation Africa - The Nordic Africa Institute". nai.uu.se. Retrieved 2025-02-26.

External links

• Embassy of Kenya | Stockholm
• Embassy of Sweden | Nairobi