NAIROBI, Kenya — Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday night for a three-day state visit, marking a significant moment in Kenya–Denmark relations with a focus on climate action, conservation, and sustainable development.
Queen Mary touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where she was received by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
According to the State Department for Foreign Affairs, the Queen’s visit will highlight Kenya’s growing role in global environmental diplomacy.
She is expected to tour major conservation initiatives along the Coast, including programmes dedicated to protecting endangered species — a sector in which Denmark has been a longstanding partner.
In Nairobi, Queen Mary will visit landfill modernisation and circular-economy projects that anchor the capital’s waste-management reforms and urban resilience agenda.
These initiatives are part of Nairobi’s wider strategy to curb pollution, expand recycling capacity, and strengthen green infrastructure in response to rapid urbanisation and climate pressures.
The climax of her visit will be her participation in the ongoing United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) at the UN Headquarters in Gigiri — the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental matters.
Her presence is expected to underscore Denmark’s global climate commitments and reinforce Kenya’s position as a diplomatic hub for environmental governance.
In a statement, the Foreign Affairs State Department said the visit “provides opportunities to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy, climate action, and environmental protection,” adding that both nations are keen on expanding people-centred and sustainable development partnerships.
Queen Mary’s arrival comes just weeks after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded a two-day official visit to Kenya.
Ibrahim, who was also received by Mudavadi and Governor Sakaja at JKIA, held bilateral talks with President William Ruto at State House, where the two leaders discussed trade, investment, and development cooperation.
During a state banquet in his honour, Ibrahim praised President Ruto’s affordable housing agenda, describing the 150,000-unit annual target as “an ambitious programme that exemplifies remarkable leadership.”
Queen Mary’s state visit signals Kenya’s continued diplomatic momentum as global leaders increasingly seek partnerships in climate mitigation, conservation, and sustainable urban development.
