Kenya to Permanently Close Its Embassy in Switzerland: Bern Consular Section Ends Nov. 30, Geneva Mission Unaffected
The Embassy of Kenya in Bern said in a public notice dated Nov. 9 that, following a directive from the Government of Kenya, it will permanently close its operations in Switzerland, and that its consular section will stop providing services on Nov. 30, 2026. Kenyan nationals, clients and members of the public in Switzerland have been formally notified.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei confirmed on Nov. 10 that the closure is part of an ongoing rationalisation of Kenya's diplomatic footprint worldwide, under which some missions will close and others will open in line with the country's strategic priorities. He said Nairobi would release a more comprehensive statement in due course and assured Kenyans that the changes would not interrupt access to consular services nearby; alternative arrangements will be communicated through the embassy's website and official channels.
The Bern embassy opened on April 2, 2020, handling Kenya's bilateral relations with Switzerland and concurrent accreditation to Liechtenstein. An estimated 8,000 to 12,000 Kenyans live in Switzerland. Kenya's separate Permanent Mission in Geneva, accredited to the United Nations and other international organisations since 1995, is distinct from the Bern embassy and is not affected by the closure.
(Source: Embassy of Kenya in Bern)
Source: Embassy of Kenya in Bern
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：瑞士首都伯尔尼老城。照片：Mister No 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The old town of Bern, Switzerland. Photo by Mister No, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
