President William Ruto’s state visit to Finland — only the second by a Kenyan head of state in decades — featured discussions on bilateral cooperation, global security, United Nations reform and, unexpectedly, questions about Kenya’s Ebola preparedness measures.

During closed-door talks in Helsinki, Ruto and his Finnish counterpart, President Alexander Stubb, explored ways to strengthen cooperation between Nairobi and Helsinki. Their discussions, however, extended beyond the two countries’ relationship to include some of the world’s most pressing conflicts, particularly Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Finland, one of Ukraine’s strongest European supporters, shares a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia and has emerged as a leading advocate for Kyiv since Moscow’s invasion.

“We have talked about Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine; we’ve talked about the war in Sudan and DRC. We’ve talked about the war raging in the Middle East,” Stubb said during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace.

The Finnish leader welcomed Kenya’s continued support for the principles of the UN Charter, especially sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“You have been such a voice of reason internationally, not only in the past four years, but before that as well,” Stubb told Ruto.

Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most viable path towards achieving a just and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

The Kenyan president also used the visit to highlight Africa’s growing importance in global affairs, arguing that the continent should no longer be viewed solely through the lens of conflict, poverty and humanitarian crises.

“For too long, the discussion about Africa has revolved around colonialism and aid,” he said. “It is time to look ahead and see what Africa can offer the world.”

He pointed to Africa’s vast natural resources, renewable energy potential, arable land and youthful population as strategic assets that position the continent as both a major market and a driver of future global growth.

Ruto further renewed calls for reform of the United Nations, noting that Africa’s 54 countries and 1.5 billion people remain underrepresented in global decision-making structures. According to him, the absence of African representation on the UN Security Council undermines the credibility and legitimacy of the international system.

Stubb said he shared those concerns and described countries of the Global South as essential partners in building a more pluralistic world order.

“The alternative is a system where major powers determine the direction of the world instead of international agreements and rules,” he said.

The visit also carried symbolic significance. It marked only the second state visit between Kenyan and Finnish leaders since the late 1980s and came after Stubb’s trip to Kenya last year alongside First Lady Susanne Innes-Stubb.

The trip was not without controversy.

During a media engagement, Ruto faced questions over public concerns surrounding Kenya’s Ebola preparedness measures, including a U.S.-supported isolation facility that has sparked debate at home.

The president dismissed fears of an outbreak, stressing that no Ebola case had been detected in Kenya and that the country was working with international partners to strengthen prevention and surveillance measures.

Kenya has recently witnessed protests over quarantine facilities established as part of its preparedness strategy. One facility, supported by the United States, is designed to isolate American citizens travelling through East Africa in the event of a suspected Ebola infection.

While the issue remains politically contentious in Kenya, Ruto maintained that preparedness rather than panic should guide the country’s response to potential regional health threats.