Ruto mourns Norway’s King Harald V, describes him as an 'exceptional monarch'

King Harald V died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the age of 89. He had been Norway’s monarch since 1991, presiding over more than three decades of social and political change.

In a condolence message issued on Saturday, August 29, Ruto extended sympathies to Queen Sonja, the Royal Family, the Norwegian Government and the people of Norway.

“I extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty Queen Sonja, the Royal Family, the Government and the people of Norway. Kenya mourns with Norway the passing of an exceptional monarch whose life was defined by duty, dignity, humility and unwavering devotion to his people,” Ruto said.

The President’s message carried a personal connection to King Harald’s legacy, coming less than three months after Ruto’s official visit to Norway on June 8 and 9, 2026.

Ruto described the trip as a historic milestone, noting that it was the first visit to Norway by a sitting Kenyan Head of State.

He said he retained warm memories of the hospitality extended to his delegation and recalled his audience with Crown Prince Haakon at the Royal Palace.

The President said the visit was marked by warmth and friendship between Kenyan and Norwegian leaders and citizens.

That visit, he added, opened a new chapter in the longstanding relationship between Nairobi and Oslo.

According to Ruto, his June visit strengthened cooperation between the two countries in several strategic areas.

These included peace and security, climate action, maritime affairs and the blue economy, trade and investment, sustainable development and multilateral cooperation.

Ruto said the areas of cooperation reflected values that characterised King Harald’s reign and Norway’s engagement with Kenya, Africa and the wider world.

The President pledged that Kenya would continue nurturing the friendship between the two countries despite the change of monarch.

“Kenya will honour his memory by continuing to nurture the friendship between our peoples and deepen the partnership between our two nations,” he said.

King Harald became monarch in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V.

Over more than 35 years on the throne, he became known as a modernising and unifying figure who maintained a largely ceremonial role while helping preserve public confidence in Norway’s constitutional monarchy.

He was also the first Norwegian-born king since the 14th century.

His early life was shaped by the Second World War, when the Norwegian royal family went into exile following Germany’s invasion of Norway. He later became a popular figure in a country that developed into one of the world’s most prosperous and stable societies.