By Andrew Kariuki
President William Ruto on Wednesday received Letters of Credence from three newly appointed ambassadors to Kenya during a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.
The envoys accredited to Kenya are Ambassador Paulo Neves Pocinho of Portugal, Ambassador Matt Baugh of the United Kingdom, and Ambassador Gabriel Pandureni Sinimbo of Namibia.
During the ceremony, President Ruto welcomed the diplomats and urged them to strengthen relations and cooperation between Kenya and their respective countries.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Kenya, I extend a warm welcome to you and encourage you to deepen cooperation and expand opportunities for the mutual benefit of our countries,” President Ruto said.
Ambassador Paulo Neves Pocinho previously served as Portugal’s ambassador to Pakistan with additional accreditation to Afghanistan, and later as ambassador to Qatar from 2022.
A career diplomat since joining Portugal’s Foreign Service in 1990, Pocinho has served in various diplomatic missions including Mexico, Paris, Newark and Goa, as well as Portugal’s Mission to the Council of Europe.
The Portuguese envoy studied philosophy at the University of Coimbra and is married with three children.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Matt Baugh takes over as the new British High Commissioner to Kenya after serving in several senior diplomatic and security roles within the United Kingdom government.
Before his Nairobi posting, Baugh served as Director for Immigration and Conflict at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and previously held the position of Director for Euro-Atlantic Security.
He also made history as the first British envoy to Somalia in two decades after his appointment to the role in 2010.
Ambassador Gabriel Pandureni Sinimbo of Namibia previously served as High Commissioner to Tanzania with concurrent accreditation to several East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Comoros.
He has also served as Namibia’s High Commissioner to India and held senior positions in both public service and the private sector.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and other senior government officials.
