The diplomat first visited Kenya as a university student in 2001 and now wants to deepen trade, investment and education ties while reconnecting with the people he met in Marigat.
NAIROBI, Kenya – When Tom Neijens first arrived in Kenya in 2001, he was not a diplomat or a government representative. He was a university student researching how to improve the efficiency of the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme in Baringo County.
A quarter of a century later, he is back in the country as Belgium’s ambassador, bringing with him a personal connection to a place that shaped his early academic and professional journey.
Neijens spent several months in Baringo conducting field research for his thesis in tropical agriculture and biosystem engineering. During his stay, he also played football with residents of Marigat Township, friendships he now hopes to rekindle.
His return comes as Belgium seeks to strengthen its economic and diplomatic engagement with Kenya, with greater emphasis on investment, trade, education and sustainable development.
The Belgian envoy formally presented his credentials to President William Ruto at State House on September 8, 2026. He also presented his credentials as Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Nairobi, UNEP and UN-Habitat on September 17.
From Perkerra Irrigation Research to Diplomacy
Neijens’ first Kenyan experience was closely linked to agriculture, a field that continues to inform his interests.
His 2001 research examined the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme and possible ways of improving its efficiency. The project gave him an early opportunity to understand agricultural development challenges at community level.
After leaving Kenya, he worked in Mexico, Rwanda, the United States, Ethiopia, Switzerland and Belgium.
His assignments included serving as diplomatic adviser to Belgium’s Prime Minister and previously as deputy chief of staff to the Minister for International Cooperation.
He believes the experience gained across different countries and government institutions will help guide his work in Nairobi.
Away from diplomacy, Neijens says he enjoys reading and running. He is also married with two daughters, and says his family is happy to have returned to Kenya.
But one of his personal ambitions during the posting is to revisit Marigat and find some of the people who played football with him during his first stay.
He also hopes to climb Mount Kenya, run in Iten and improve his Kiswahili.
Belgium Eyes More Investment and Trade With Kenya
Beyond the personal story, Neijens wants to expand commercial relations between Nairobi and Brussels.
He says Belgium has more than 700 citizens registered in Kenya and receives over 15,000 Belgian tourists annually, reflecting growing interest in the country.
A key priority, he said, is creating conditions that allow Belgian businesses to expand, generate sustainable employment and increase trade between the two countries.
The ambassador said Belgium was shifting towards partnerships built around education, entrepreneurship and investment rather than relying primarily on traditional development assistance.
He cited the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO), which he said had invested more than Sh14 billion in Kenya’s economy.
One example of the company’s involvement is its €8 million investment in Kenyan ice cream manufacturer Glacier Products Limited, announced in November 2025. The investment was intended to support additional production lines and storage capacity while strengthening the company’s links with local dairy farmers.
Neijens said the embassy was also engaging the Kenyan government on ways to improve the business environment and attract more Belgian and European investors.
Net-Zero Embassy to Become a Hub for Young Kenyans
Sustainability is another area the ambassador wants to build on during his tenure.
The Belgian Embassy compound in Nairobi has been transformed into a climate-neutral facility, using solar power, battery storage, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and a biodigester that converts organic waste into biogas.
Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Ministry says the project was designed to reduce the compound’s environmental footprint, with the embassy recycling about 80 per cent of its used water. The United Nations Environment Programme has also highlighted the facility as a model for climate-conscious operations.
Neijens wants to build on that achievement by making the compound a meeting point for Kenyan young people and professionals interested in sustainable development and the circular economy.
He also identified education, scholarships and sports as potential avenues for strengthening links between the two countries.
Belgian Universities Open Doors for Kenyan Students
The ambassador said Belgium was keen to deepen academic partnerships with Kenyan institutions and attract more Kenyan students to its universities.
He pointed to existing links involving the University of Nairobi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and the Technical University of Mombasa.
Many Belgian master’s programmes are taught in English, he noted, meaning Kenyan students do not necessarily need to speak Dutch, French or German to pursue postgraduate studies there.
Over the years, hundreds of Kenyan officials and students have benefited from Belgian government scholarships, European Union programmes and university partnerships, according to Neijens.
He said these connections had helped create a network of Kenyans with personal and professional links to Belgium.
Ambassador Wants Stronger Kenya-Europe Cooperation
Neijens also used his interview to make a broader argument about the relationship between Africa and Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
He said both Kenya and Belgium had an interest in defending an international order based on rules and cooperation rather than allowing powerful countries to dictate terms to weaker states.
The ambassador acknowledged the unequal history of relations between Europe and Africa but argued that the two regions faced shared challenges that required closer partnerships.
He said cooperation should not be interpreted as pressure on African countries to choose sides in global rivalries.
For him, the priority is building partnerships based on mutual interests and respect.
