Germany and Kenya

Accreditation Hellwig-Boette Handover of the accreditation letter (© German Embassy Nairobi)

Germany and Kenya have a tradition of close partnership. Kenya's political and economic weight means that it plays an important role in the region. It is in Germany's interest, too, that Kenya retains and consolidates its function as a stabilizing force in a crisis-ridden region (Somalia, southern Sudan, Great Lakes).

Germany was the first country to officially recognize Kenya after it gained independence on December 12th, 1963. Since independence, there has been wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries, particularly in development assistance (Kenya is a partner country of German development cooperation) and in the economic and cultural sectors.

Germany is one of Kenya's principal partners and one of the major donors after the World Bank, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Besides the Embassy in Nairobi, the Federal Republic of Germany also has an honorary consul in the large coastal city and seaport of Mombasa.

Nearly all German political foundations maintain regional offices in the country.

Germany accounts for a significant portion of foreign tourists visiting the country.

Bestowal of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mr. Sidiq Ghalia, former Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mombasa

On 15.01.2011, the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany has been awarded to Mr. Sidiq Ghalia, former Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mombasa by Ambassador Hellwig-Bötte in the name of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

During the award ceremony, Ambassador Hellwig-Bötte thanked him for his excellent performance as Honorary Consul for the German community in the coastal region of Kenya, as well as for his active role as promoter of a cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

However, Ambassador Hellwig-Bötte expressed special gratitude on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany for his commitment to the cultural exchange between Germany and Kenya which has finally resulted in the renovation of the Krapf-Memorial in Mombasa, which is dedicated to the ethnologist, pioneer and missionary Johan Ludwig Krapf. Without Mr Ghalia's contribution and assistance, the offical opening of the "Ludwig Krapf Memorial Park" during the German Cultural Weeks 2009 in Kenya, would not have been possible and an important milestone within the bilateral relations of Germany and Kenya been neglected.