EXCLUSIVE: Inside Manoah Esipisu's 5-Year Tenure as Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK

Manoah Esipisu is Kenya's outgoing High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), having served for five and a half years.

Esipisu, who's been serving since 2018, will end his tour of duty in the UK on 13 May 2024.

Speaking exclusively to Nairobileo.co.ke, the outgoing High Commissioner opened up on his tenure, noting that he's proud of the milestone the mission has made under his leadership.

Achievements

Outlining the achievements made during his term, Esipisu noted that he was proud of successfully negotiating a Post-Brexit trade agreement between the UK and Kenya.

The UK pulling out of the European Union (EU) meant that countries keen on doing business with her had to engage her directly. Fortunately, Kenya was one of the countries that secured a trade agreement where Kenyan produce was exported to the English country.

He also noted that customer service improved during his tenure thanks to the introduction of an appointment system that enhanced efficiency, in that service seekers would only visit the mission when they have an appointment, according to the High Commissioner, which eliminated the long queues witnessed previously.

Kenya's outgoing High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Amb. Manoah Esipisu. [Photo: NairobiLeo]

Esipisu was particularly involved in producing mobile consular services, an innovation made during his tenure. He notes that thanks to the innovation, consular services can reach Kenyans in different parts of the UK, saving them the hustle of going to London.

"Mobile consular services have been an amazing innovation by both the Department for Immigration as well as the State Department for Diaspora Affairs. As you recall, anyone in the UK who wanted services would have to come to London...This has been one of our biggest innovations, and it's appreciated by the diaspora here," he said.

Negotiating employment opportunities for Kenyans was another critical achievement during his term. Esipisu divulged that in line with President Ruto's call for Ambassadors to lobby for more jobs, his team had secured over 1,000 slots for Kenyans in the seasonal agricultural worker's scheme.

Kenya's outgoing High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Amb. Manoah Esipisu. [Photo: NairobiLeo]

Moreover, the High Commissioner disclosed during his tenure that Kenya and the UK signed an agreement for healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, to secure employment in the UK.

"We have responded to the President's call to lobby for more jobs and we can show not just a few dozen but a few thousands in the time he's been in office," he noted.

On matters of education, Esipisu confirmed that partnerships between Kenyan and UK institutions are growing, noting that currently, Kenyatta University has an agreement with the University of Manchester, where there's a form of exchange program for medical students. 

Similarly, the University of Nairobi's Institute of Development Studies has partnered with the African Leadership Centre at the Kings College in London.

According to the outgoing High Commissioner, Kenyan students getting scholarships in the UK have also increased significantly.

"We have more Kenyan kids in UK universities that are funded by scholarships. These students have a greater ability in terms of jobs because they can stay in the UK on graduate visas that we negotiated," he said.

Challenges

Like any other job, he faced challenges during his tenure, at the top of the list being navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. Esipisu notes that with students having to stay in the hostel, some Kenyan students experienced issues of mental illness.

He says this prompted them to hold workshops and webinars on how to face and address issues related to mental health.

The other major challenge was that the Indian Ocean stretch leading to the Kenyan Coast had been categorized as a high-risk area; therefore, traders had to pay high insurance premiums for large ships from the UK to use that route.

This resulted in a high cost of doing business, which was unfavorable for Kenyans. However, his team negotiated and got Kenya off the list.

At a personal level, Esipisu cited the risk of loneliness as one of the challenges one may face when away from family and friends.

What He'll Miss as He leaves the UK

The former State House Spokesperson said the people and efficient and predictable systems are what he'll miss the most as he leaves the UK.

"For me, it is the people. It's about the partnerships and networks you create. It's about the ability to do things because you can join the dots," he opined.

Best Moments in the UK

Having lived in the UK for five years, Esipisu has created several unforgettable masterpieces. However, he singled out two that stood out from the rest.

Both were at Buckingham Palace. The first was when he presented his credentials to the Queen and rode on a horse carriage. The second was when he led a delegation of Kenyans in the UK to the Palace, where the host appreciated the role played by the latter in the country.

To improve the functionality of embassies and missions abroad, Esipisu has recommended aligning vision and deliverables, focusing on a clear mandate and measurable deliverables.

As he exits, Esipisu is proud of his work with the London team and affirms that representing his country abroad is an honor and privilege.