East Africa’s largest economy to close embassy in Switzerland as it reshuffles diplomatic priorities and opens new missions in strategic markets.

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei said the decision was part of a wider effort to align Kenya‘s overseas missions with its changing foreign policy and strategic priorities.

“This is part of the ongoing rationalisation of Kenya’s diplomatic footprint globally, involving closing some missions and opening new ones in the furtherance of our strategic priorities as a country,” Sing’Oei said.

The move signals another shift in Nairobi’s diplomatic network, which has already seen the closure of its embassies in Havana, Cuba, and Sudan, and the relocation of its diplomatic representation to Kingston, Jamaica.

The Kenyan embassy said its Consular Section would close on Monday, November 30, 2026, urging residents and other clients with pending applications to make arrangements to collect their processed documents.

Those already notified that their documents are ready have been asked to retrieve them before the deadline. The embassy will contact applicants who submitted requests from November 1 separately with details on how and where to collect their documents.

The embassy also advised applicants to present valid identification alongside their application receipts when collecting documents.

For future consular needs, the mission said information about alternative arrangements for Kenyans in Switzerland would be communicated through its website and official channels.

Despite the closure, Sing’Oei assured Kenyans living overseas that the restructuring would not cut them off from essential government services.

“Kenyans will continue to receive proximate services despite this rationalisation process,” he said, adding that a more detailed announcement on the changes would follow.

However, the government has yet to identify which Kenyan diplomatic mission will assume responsibility for Switzerland or explain how residents will access consular assistance going forward.

Kenya opened its embassy in Bern on April 2, 2020, following plans announced in 2018, building on diplomatic relations established in 1964, a year after Switzerland recognised Kenya’s independence and opened its embassy in Nairobi.