President William Ruto officially bid farewell to the outgoing High Commissioner of Cyprus to Kenya, His Excellency Savvas Vladimirou, during a formal diplomatic engagement at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting marked the conclusion of High Commissioner Vladimirou’s assignment in the country, where he has served as head of mission since March 1, 2023.
During the discussions, President Ruto emphasized the longstanding and warm relationship between Kenya and Cyprus, highlighting how bilateral cooperation has continuously grown and thrived over the decades.
Kenya and Cyprus formally established diplomatic ties in 1972, shorty after Kenya attained independence, built upon the close personal friendship between Kenya’s founding President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and Cyprus’s first President, Archbishop Makarios III.
Cyprus was among the first nations to open a diplomatic mission in Nairobi, and the two countries recently deepened these bonds further with the official inauguration of Cyprus’s fully-fledged embassy in Nairobi.
Located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea at the strategic crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the Republic of Cyprus is an island nation with an estimated population of 1.2 to 1.3 million people.
Despite its compact geographic size, Cyprus boasts an advanced, high-income market economy characterized by strong economic stability and steady GDP growth. As an European Union member state, its resilient economy is predominantly service-oriented—driven by thriving tourism, shipping, real estate, higher education, and international financial services.
The President expressed deep appreciation for Cyprus’s ongoing support, particularly in enhancing Kenya’s education and healthcare sectors throughout High Commissioner Vladimirou’s tenure.
To further solidify diplomatic ties between the two nations, President Ruto extended a formal invitation to the President of Cyprus to pay an official visit to Kenya in the near future.
Taking to his official X account, President William Ruto announced:
“Kenya and Cyprus enjoy deep historical ties that have thrived over the years… We look forward to continuing to strengthen our bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of our people.”
The meeting underscores Kenya’s commitment to expanding its international partnerships across Europe, paving the way for deeper economic, academic, and strategic collaboration between both nations.
