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Professor Hubert Gijzen, UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern Africa and Representative to Kenya, on 6 September 2021 presented his credentials to the Cabinet Secretary Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo. During the presentation he acknowledged the strong relations and cooperation between UNESCO and the Republic of Kenya over the past decades that has generated so much impact and tangible results. From the nomination of 7 World Heritage Sites to the prestigious UNESCO WHS list, to 6 Biosphere Reserves, and five inscriptions onto the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, all providing a strong basis for a flourishing eco and cultural tourism sector and creative industries. In the field of Education and the Sciences our cooperation has supported Kenya Government efforts to achieve high Gross Enrollment Rates in Basic education, and a sharp rise in the number of researchers per million inhabitants. More recently, the acceptance by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta, at the invitation of the Director-General of UNESCO, to be a patron of the UN Ocean Decade Alliance demonstrated the importance Kenya attaches to the development of a blue economy.

He assured Ambassador Raychelle Omamo that his tenure, as the UNESCO Regional Director and Representative to Kenya, will open a new chapter to further develop and strengthen the friendly relations and productive cooperation between UNESCO and the Republic of Kenya.

Professor Hubert Gijzen, presented his Letter of Credence to Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Evangeline Njoka, and the Director of the UN and Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Susan Mwangi.