Who is Peter Maddens, the Belgian envoy who shared history with the Kenyattas

His story is remarkable.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, who also served as Belgium's ambassador to Kenya decades earlier.

Even more remarkable, the two presented their credentials to two Kenyan presidents who were also father and son.

Maddens officially began his ambassadorial role in Kenya on September 1, 2021, when he presented his credentials to then President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Decades earlier, his father had presented his credentials to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

"My dad was ambassador here in the 70s," Maddens said in an April 22, 2024, interview with Spice FM.

He said he found it remarkable that he presented his credentials to the son of the president to whom his father had also presented credentials.

This meant returning to the same Nairobi residence where he spent part of his childhood.

"In a kingdom it can happen because you have a succession, father to son as head of state, but in a republic never!"

The similarities do not end there.

"Uhuru Kenyatta and I were classmates at St Mary's in 1978-79," Maddens revealed.

Beyond diplomacy, Maddens distinguished himself through his passion for environmental conservation.

During his tenure, he transformed the Belgian ambassador's residence into a net-zero carbon footprint facility, showcasing visionary leadership and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

"We can't keep consuming energy the same way we've been consuming energy, we can't keep wasting water. Why not turn waste into energy that we can use as well instead of throwing it around into landfills?" he said during the radio interview.

The Belgian Embassy and ambassador's residence in Nairobi operate around the clock on solar energy, which also powers electric vehicles through a fast charger.

"Even during grey days, we generate enough power to run our operations. Thanks to the smart power grid, we closely track power generation and consumption," he told TV47 in a March interview.

"People say I like to think outside the box, this was like a wild idea," he said.

His green agenda extended beyond the embassy. Maddens championed Belgian support for Kenya's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through investments in healthcare infrastructure, health systems strengthening, local pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.

Belgium also supported the adoption of modern clinical waste management technologies that have improved efficiency, reduced costs and promoted environmental sustainability in Kenya's health facilities.

"I thanked Ambassador Maddens for his exemplary service and commitment to strengthening Kenya–Belgium relations and wished him success in his future assignments," Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said when he hosted Maddens for a farewell courtesy visit.

Maddens was equally committed to strengthening economic ties between Kenya and Belgium.

During his tenure, he initiated and supported programmes that deepened bilateral relations dating back more than a century.

Belgium established its first consulate in Nairobi in 1920 before the two countries formalised diplomatic relations in 1964.

A key pillar of his economic agenda was the elimination of double taxation, which he believed would remove barriers to business and expand cross-border investment between the two countries.

That commitment culminated on September 30, 2025, when he signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTA) with Kenya's Treasury CS John Mbadi.

“Our relationship is built on shared values, mutual respect and an unwavering belief in collaborative progress. The DTA is just the beginning of a new chapter of innovation, trade and partnership,” he said during a high-level address at Strathmore University on February 19, 2026.

Apart from Kenya, Maddens also served as ambassador to the Comoros, Eritrea, Madagascar, Seychelles and Somalia, as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offices in Nairobi.

His diplomatic career spans several decades and reflects a wealth of international experience.

After graduating with a Master's degree in Law from the Catholic University of Louvain in 1985, he held a series of senior diplomatic assignments, including Communications Director at Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, and ambassador to Tanzania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius and Zambia.

In 2017, he was appointed Belgium's ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, where he advanced Belgian commercial interests across South America.

Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Head of Mission in Caracas, Venezuela, and at Belgium's Mission to the United Nations in New York.

During his time at the UN, he chaired negotiations that led to the creation of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and spearheaded reforms to peacekeeping financing, cementing his reputation as an accomplished career diplomat.

His departure from Nairobi marks the end of a diplomatic chapter that combined environmental innovation, economic cooperation and enduring people-to-people ties between Kenya and Belgium.