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The Kenyan government has confirmed plans to permanently close its embassy in Bern, Switzerland, as part of a wider diplomatic restructuring that will see the country open new missions in Azerbaijan and the Republic of Congo.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said the government was reviewing Kenya’s diplomatic presence around the world to align it with changing foreign policy priorities and available financial resources. The exercise involves closing select missions, relocating others, and establishing new presence in strategically significant nations.
Under the first phase, the Bern embassy will close permanently, while new missions open in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to strengthen ties in Central Europe and Central Africa.
The consular section in Bern will cease operations on November 30, 2026. Citizens with pending passport or document applications have been advised to collect them before the deadline.
Sing’Oei clarified that closing the Bern embassy will not harm bilateral relations with Switzerland. Government ties will now be managed through the Kenyan High Commission in London, United Kingdom—reverting to the setup used prior to the Bern mission’s launch.
Kenya will also maintain its Permanent Mission in Geneva for engagements with the United Nations and other international bodies. Consular assistance for Kenyans residing in Switzerland will be provided via the Geneva mission.
Additionally, the government confirmed earlier diplomatic relocations: the mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has moved to Mexico City, Mexico, while the mission in Havana, Cuba, was relocated to Kingston, Jamaica.
Established in 2020 and officially commissioned in 2022, the Bern embassy handled relations formed in 1964. The ministry assured citizens that rationalisation will proceed gradually to minimise disruption.
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