President William Ruto on Friday, March 21, 2025, attended the inauguration of Namibia’s first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in Windhoek.
Taking to his official X account, Ruto stated that the event was a double celebration as the country was also marking the 35th independence anniversary.
“We join the people of Namibia in celebrating the historic inauguration of their first female president, Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. It was a double celebration as the country was also marking the 35th independence anniversary,” Ruto stated.
Ruto wishes Nandi-Ndaitwah success
He went ahead to wish President Nandi-Ndaitwah success and hailed her track record in public service, leadership, and the liberation struggle.
Ruto further expressed his confidence in Namibia’s fifth head of state, noting that she would inspire progress and prosperity in the country.
“We wish President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Namibia’s fifth head of state, every success as she undertakes the noble duty of serving in the highest office in her nation. With her track record in public service, leadership, and the liberation struggle, I am confident that she will inspire progress and prosperity,” Ruto stated.
Kenya-Namibia bilateral ties
Moreover, Ruto expressed Kenya’s willingness to work closely with President Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Government of Namibia to further deepen the two nations’ existing bilateral ties.
Other African heads of state who attended the event are Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), João Lourenço (Angola), Felix Tshisekedi (DRC Congo), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Duma Boko (Botswana), Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), and Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi).
“Kenya looks forward to working closely with President Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Government of Namibia to further deepen our strong bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of our two nations and peoples. At the colourful ceremony at State House Windhoek, I joined Presidents @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania, @CyrilRamaphosa (South Africa), @edmnangagwa (Zimbabwe), João Lourenço (Angola), Felix Tshisekedi (DRC Congo), @HHichilema (Zambia), Duma Boko (Botswana), Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), and Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi), among other leaders, to witness the inauguration of President Nandi-Naitwah,” Ruto wrote on X.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, won the Namibian elections last year that extended the ruling party’s 35-year grip on power.
Previously the vice president, she is a stalwart of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) that led the sparsely populated and uranium-rich country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Popularly known by her initials NNN, Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 58 percent of the vote in the chaotic November elections, which were extended several times after logistical failures led to major delays.
The youthful opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) mounted a strong challenge but took only 25.5 percent of the vote, underscoring continued loyalty to SWAPO even as the popularity of other southern African liberation parties has waned.
