Kenyans living in Switzerland will soon have to seek consular services elsewhere following the government’s decision to permanently shut down its embassy in Bern.
The Kenyan mission announced that it will close its consular section on November 30, ahead of the complete withdrawal of its operations in the country.
In a notice issued on Monday, November 9, Kenya’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Fouzia Abass, said the decision followed a directive from the Kenyan government, informing citizens and other clients of the impending closure.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei later confirmed the development on Tuesday, November 10, explaining that the move is part of a wider government plan to reorganise its diplomatic presence across the world.
Sing’Oei noted that the exercise will involve shutting down some diplomatic missions while establishing others in locations considered important to Kenya’s strategic interests.
The closure is expected to affect between 8,000 and 12,000 Kenyans residing in Switzerland who rely on the embassy for essential consular assistance, including passport renewals and processing of official documents.
Ambassador Abass has urged Kenyans with pending applications to collect their documents from the embassy before November 30.
However, those who submitted applications for consular services after November 1 will be contacted individually and provided with further instructions on how to access their processed documents.
The government is yet to announce the alternative arrangements for Kenyans in Switzerland, with the ambassador assuring citizens that further communication will be issued on where they can access consular services going forward.
Meanwhile, Kenya has maintained a Permanent Mission in Geneva since 1995, primarily handling multilateral engagements with United Nations agencies and other international organisations, rather than direct bilateral relations with the Swiss government.
