Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen to Visit Kenya

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen is expected to visit Kenya in 2027 as the two countries seek to strengthen diplomatic relations and expand economic cooperation.

The proposed State Visit was discussed by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi during a meeting with Austria’s Ambassador to Kenya, Simone Knapp, on Tuesday, October 13.

Mudavadi said Kenya was seeking to strengthen its international partnerships to create economic opportunities and position itself as a regional gateway for trade and investment.

"Kenya is strengthening its global partnerships to attract investment, expand opportunities and position itself as a gateway to East Africa. 

"During discussions with Dr. Simone Knapp, Austria’s Ambassador to Kenya, at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, I extended my congratulations on the Ambassador’s appointment," he wrote.

Mudavadi said the discussions also focused on Austria’s renewed strategic interest in Africa and the proposed visit by Van der Bellen.

"Our discussions centred on the proposed State Visit to Kenya by Austrian President H.E. Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen in 2027, and Austria’s renewed strategic focus on Africa," he added.

Mudavadi noted that stronger relations between the two countries could help Kenyan businesses access new opportunities while strengthening Kenya’s position as an important partner for Austria in East Africa.

"This presents an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation, attract investment and open new avenues for Kenyan businesses and young professionals, while positioning Kenya as Austria’s strategic partner in the region," he concluded.

Elsewhere, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on Monday, October 12, held bilateral talks with Eric Meyer, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Middle East on the sidelines of the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a statement, the National Treasury said the meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to assess the country’s macroeconomic position and explore areas of cooperation in support of their shared development priorities.

"The engagement provided a platform to review Kenya’s macroeconomic outlook, assess the status of engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and consider avenues for strengthening Kenya-U.S. economic cooperation in support of shared development priorities," the statement read.

According to the Ministry, Mbadi and Meyer discussed the forthcoming Article IV consultations, a process through which the international lender assesses the economic and financial policies of its member countries.

The National Treasury disclosed that an IMF mission was expected to visit Nairobi in early December 2026 for the consultations, which will provide an opportunity to review Kenya’s economic performance and policy direction.

The two officials also reviewed progress towards the publication of the Governance Diagnostic Report, which is part of the ongoing engagement on governance and accountability in the public sector.

"On the IMF programme, the discussions covered the forthcoming Article IV consultations, with an IMF mission expected in Nairobi early December 2026. 

"The two sides also reviewed progress towards publication of the Governance Diagnostic Report, an important component of ongoing engagement on governance and public sector accountability," the statement added.