NAIROBI, Sept 4 (NNN-KBC) — Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kenya took a new turn Wednesday as Ambassador T.B.H. Witjaksono Adji formally presented his Letters of Credence as Indonesia’s new Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya to President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi.
This follows Witjaksono appointment by Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto in March this year where he was announced as Ambassador to Kenya and concurrently accredited to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Uganda, UNEP, and UN-HABITAT.
Witjaksono brings extensive experience in international diplomacy to his new role, having previously held senior positions within Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His previous roles include stints as Director of the Directorate for Central and Eastern Europe Affairs and as Director for Asia-Pacific and African cooperation at the ministry.
He is a vocal advocate of South-South cooperation and often champions revival of the legacy of the 1955 Bandung Conference, which brought together newly independent nations from Asia and Africa to forge unity and solidarity.
In his remarks to President Ruto, Witjaksono conveyed warm greetings from Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto and praised Kenya as “a beacon of progress, resilience, and hope for the African continent and the wider developing world”.
He emphasized the shared values between the two nations as “diverse democracies bound by the Indian Ocean and united in their histories of independence”.
The credential presentation comes at a time of unprecedented cooperation between the two nations. Following President Joko Widodo’s historic state visit to Kenya in August 2023, bilateral relations between Kenya and Indonesia have reached new heights, facilitating increased exchanges between Indonesia’s 280 million citizens and Kenya’s 54 million people.
Notably, Kenyan passport holders now enjoy ‘Visa on Arrival’ status in Indonesia, allowing stays of up to 30 days with possible extension for another 30 days.
Kenya and Indonesia also signed strategic bilateral agreements in September 2023, with a strong focus on energy generation projects among other development cooperation programmes.
Additionally, Indonesia expanded scholarship opportunities for Kenyan students at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
In his remarks, Witjaksono outlined priority areas for future collaboration, including the blue economy, renewable energy, mining, transportation, defense and digital transformation.
Today’s ceremony takes place against a backdrop of political turbulence in Indonesia, where nationwide protests have resulted in significant civil unrest. According to Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights, at least 10 people have died in demonstrations sparked by criticism of the House of Representatives’ performance and other governance issues.
The protests bear similarities to Kenya’s own recent experience with youth-led demonstrations earlier this year, highlighting common challenges facing the two developing democracies in addressing governance concerns and youth aspirations.
In response to the crisis, Indonesia’s House of Representatives leadership has announced institutional reforms, including the discontinuation of housing allowances for council members and a moratorium on foreign official trips with Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad issuing a public apology for “mistakes and shortcomings” in representing the people’s aspirations.
With growing economic ties and shared commitments to democratic governance and sustainable development, Witjaksono‘s appointment comes at a time when strengthening of bilateral ties between Kenya and Indonesia is crucial as both countries navigate domestic political pressures in an increasingly complex global environment. — NNN-KBC
