Kenya is preparing to permanently close its embassy in Bern, Switzerland, as the government moves to reorganise its diplomatic missions and redirect resources towards its strategic foreign policy priorities.
The closure was announced in a notice dated Monday, November 9, 2026, in which the Embassy of Kenya in Bern informed Kenyan nationals and members of the public that its consular section would stop operating from November 30 ahead of the permanent shutdown.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Fouzia Abass, said the decision followed a directive from the government to terminate the mission’s operations in the European country.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Bern wishes to inform all Kenyan Nationals, clients and members of the public that, following a directive of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Embassy will permanently close its operations in Switzerland,” Abass stated.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed the planned closure on Tuesday, November 10, describing it as part of a wider government strategy to rationalise Kenya’s diplomatic presence around the world.
Sing’Oei explained that the government was reviewing its overseas missions, with plans to close some diplomatic offices while establishing others in locations considered more important to Kenya’s national interests.
“This is part of ongoing rationalisation of Kenya’s diplomatic footprint globally, involving closing some Missions and opening new ones in furtherance of our strategic priorities as a country,” the Principal Secretary said.
What Happens to Kenyans Living in Switzerland?
The planned closure is expected to affect thousands of Kenyans living in Switzerland who have relied on the Bern embassy for consular assistance and essential government services.
Estimates put the Kenyan community in Switzerland at between 8,000 and 12,000 people.
The embassy has been providing services such as passport renewals, travel documentation and other consular assistance to Kenyan nationals living in the country.
In her notice, Ambassador Abass urged Kenyans who had already applied for important documents to collect them from the embassy before November 30.
However, applicants who submitted requests for consular services after November 1 will be contacted separately and given instructions on how to collect their processed documents.
The ambassador added that the government would communicate alternative arrangements and explain where Kenyans in Switzerland should seek consular services after the mission closes.
The announcement has left Kenyans living in the country awaiting further details about the arrangements for accessing passports, emergency travel documents and other essential services.
Why Kenya Is Closing Its Embassy in Bern
According to the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, the decision forms part of a broader review of Kenya’s diplomatic network.
The government intends to streamline its international missions by assessing where diplomatic resources can best support its foreign policy objectives, economic interests and international partnerships.
The planned changes could involve closing selected missions while opening new diplomatic offices in countries or regions considered strategically important.
However, the government has not yet provided a detailed explanation of why Switzerland was selected for closure or identified the new locations where Kenya intends to establish additional missions.
Kenya’s Diplomatic Presence in Switzerland
Kenya’s diplomatic engagement with Switzerland has involved two distinct missions with different responsibilities.
The country has maintained a Permanent Mission in Geneva since 1995, primarily handling multilateral relations with United Nations agencies and other international organisations based in the Swiss city.
The embassy in Bern, on the other hand, was responsible for bilateral diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Swiss government.
The establishment of the resident embassy followed an agreement between the two countries in 2018.
Kenya’s diplomatic mission in Bern formally became operational as a resident embassy on April 2, 2020, when Ambassador Andrew Kihurani presented his credentials as the country’s first ambassador based in Switzerland.
The embassy’s chancery was later officially commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 20, 2022, although operations had begun earlier, around October 2020.
The planned closure will therefore mark a significant change in Kenya’s diplomatic representation in Switzerland, although the Permanent Mission in Geneva has a separate multilateral mandate.
The government is expected to provide further guidance on how bilateral relations and consular services will be handled after the Bern embassy shuts down on November 30.
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