President William Ruto on Wednesday held a farewell meeting for outgoing Apostolic Nuncio Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, marking the end of the Archbishop’s diplomatic mission in Kenya after seven years of service.
In a message shared after the meeting, President Ruto thanked Archbishop van Megen for the role he played in strengthening relations between Kenya and the Holy See.
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described the Vatican envoy as an important figure in fostering friendship and cooperation between Nairobi and the Vatican, saying his tenure helped deepen ties between the two states.
One of the key milestones highlighted by President Ruto was Kenya’s decision to appoint its first resident ambassador to the Vatican -a move seen as a major step in improving diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Holy See.
Archbishop van Megen has been serving as the Pope’s representative in Kenya, a role that involves maintaining diplomatic relations with the government while also working closely with the Catholic Church in the country.
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“During his tenure, Kenya took the historic step of appointing, for the first time, a resident ambassador to the Vatican, further elevating the cordial relations between our two states,”
President Ruto wished the outgoing envoy well in his next assignment and thanked him for what he described as dedicated service to Kenya-Vatican relations.
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Over the past seven years, Archbishop van Megen has played a significant role in strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between Kenya and the Holy See,” the President said. for decades, with the Catholic Church continuing to play a major role in the country’s education, healthcare, and humanitarian sectors.
