NAIROBI, Kenya — The Duchess of Edinburgh is scheduled to visit Kenya this week in a trip aimed at strengthening UK–Kenya collaboration on women, peace, and security, the British High Commission has announced.
In a communiqué issued on Wednesday, February 25, the British High Commission in Nairobi said the visit will promote the role of women in peacebuilding, security, and economic growth ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.
“Ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March), the United Kingdom will deepen its partnership with Kenya as HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the country this week to advance shared priorities on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), strengthen cooperation on community resilience, and support women’s leadership across the country,” the statement read in part.
The visit will centre on three objectives: reinforcing UK–Kenya cooperation under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) framework, championing women peacebuilders in conflict resolution efforts, and highlighting the role of Kenyan women in leadership and decision-making spaces.
During her stay, the Duchess is expected to hold talks with President William Ruto on ongoing cooperation under the UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership. The two countries signed the framework in 2020 to deepen collaboration in trade, security, climate action, and governance.
Her itinerary also includes engagements with senior women leaders in government, women entrepreneurs and business leaders, as well as grassroots peacebuilders working in communities affected by conflict.
According to the High Commission, the Duchess will meet women who are actively involved in preventing and resolving conflict, bridging community divides, and strengthening local stability. The engagements are expected to spotlight Kenya’s implementation of the global Women, Peace and Security agenda, anchored in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for increased participation of women in peace processes and protection from gender-based violence.
Commenting on the visit, UK Chargé d’Affaires Ed Barnett said the trip reflects a shared commitment to placing women at the centre of bilateral relations.
“The United Kingdom is proud to stand alongside Kenya in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Women are driving peace, stability, and economic progress in every part of this country, and their leadership is essential to resilient communities and inclusive growth. This visit reflects our shared commitment to making women central to the Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership. We’re going far, together,” Barnett said.
The Duchess, who is married to Prince Edward, the youngest sibling of King Charles III, will be making her visit nearly two years after King Charles III and Queen Camilla toured Kenya in October 2023.
That four-day visit — their first to a Commonwealth nation after King Charles III ascended to the throne — included engagements in Nairobi and Mombasa, where they were received by President Ruto.
The upcoming visit signals continued diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and London, with a renewed focus on governance, inclusion, and the role of women in shaping sustainable peace and development.
