Gov’t Reveals Countries Set to Get New Embassies in Diplomatic Overhaul

The government has announced plans to open new embassies in Azerbaijan and the Republic of Congo as part of a diplomatic restructuring exercise.

In a statement on Tuesday, November 10, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the new diplomatic missions would be established in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Brazzaville, Congo.

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Explaining the rationale behind the exercise, the Ministry said the review was necessary to ensure Kenya's diplomatic presence reflected its changing interests.

"In an international environment shaped by geopolitical complexity and uncertainty, fiscal pressures and competing national development priorities, there is need for careful review of Kenya's diplomatic footprint globally. Such review will take into account the need to maintain diplomatic representation against Kenya's evolving priorities," the statement read.

The government said the restructuring would be implemented in phases, with some missions being closed, others relocated and new ones established to strengthen Kenya's strategic interests.

"Accordingly, the Government is undertaking a phased rationalization of Kenya's diplomatic footprint globally. This involves the closure of some Missions, the relocation of others, or the opening of new ones, all in furtherance of our strategic priorities," the statement added.

Under Phase One of the exercise, the Kenyan Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, has been identified for closure.

The ministry also confirmed that the relocation of Kenya's diplomatic missions in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Mexico City, and Havana, Cuba, to Kingston, Jamaica, had already been completed.

Despite the planned closure of the Bern Embassy, the government maintained that the decision would not affect Kenya's diplomatic relations with Switzerland.

"The closure of the Embassy in Bern does not diminish Kenya's long-standing and friendly relations with Switzerland. Coverage of bilateral matters with Switzerland will revert to the Kenya High Commission in London, as was previously the case. 

"Kenya will retain its diplomatic presence in Geneva, which will continue to represent the country in its engagement with the United Nations and other multilateral organizations hosted there," the statement further read.

The ministry further assured Kenyans living in Switzerland that the government would continue providing consular assistance through its diplomatic representation in Geneva.

"The Government remains committed to the welfare of Kenyans in Switzerland and the Permanent Mission in Geneva will provide consular services to Kenyans resident in Switzerland. Further information will be availed through the website and official channels of the Missions in Bern and Geneva respectively," the statement noted.

The government said the changes would be introduced gradually to avoid inconveniencing Kenyans living abroad and countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Nairobi.

"We wish to inform that the rationalization will be implemented gradually, with minimal disruption to Kenyans abroad and to our partners," the statement concluded.

This comes a week after the government launched its second pilot office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Sunday, November 1, the Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya) said the initiative was aimed at establishing a stronger institutional presence in strategic foreign markets to connect Kenya with international investors and global sources of capital. 

"The initiative advances Kenya's strategy to establish dedicated, proactive investment offices in high-value foreign direct investment (FDI) jurisdictions, bringing investment promotion closer to global capital and prospective investors," the statement read.

According to InvestKenya, the Jeddah office will provide a direct link between Kenyan investment opportunities and Saudi businesses, enterprises and institutional investors once it becomes operational.

"The Jeddah office, once operational, will serve as a direct, localised commercial gateway. It will facilitate FDI, coordinate and promote Kenyan investment opportunities directly to Saudi enterprises and institutional investors, working in partnership with the Kenya Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah," the statement added.

The authority said the second pilot would build on the experience gained from the Hangzhou office as Kenya worked towards establishing a wider network of investment hubs in priority international markets.

"As the second pilot, the Jeddah office builds on the foundation established in Hangzhou and contributes to the planned development of a global network of Kenyan investment hubs across priority economic jurisdictions, particularly in the Middle East and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region," the statement further read.