By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Kenya has announced plans to permanently shutdown its embassy in Bern, Switzerland November 30, as part of an ongoing restructuring of the country’s diplomatic missions across the world.
According to the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Bern, its operations would be shut down following a directive from the government, bringing its diplomatic and consular services in the European country to an end.
In a public notice, the embassy urged Kenyans and other clients with pending applications to collect their processed documents before the deadline.
Clients have already been notified that their documents are ready have been asked to collect them from the embassy before the closure date.
The embassy said information on alternative arrangements for providing consular services to Kenyans living in Switzerland would be communicated through its website and other official channels.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei said the closure was part of a broader government initiative to rationalise Kenya’s diplomatic presence internationally in line with the country’s strategic interests.
“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.
He assured Kenyans living abroad that the restructuring would not leave them without access to essential government services.
“Kenyans will continue to receive proximate services despite this rationalisation process,” he said, adding that a more comprehensive statement outlining the changes would be released in due course.
The government has not yet disclosed which diplomatic mission will take over responsibility for serving Kenyans residing in Switzerland or how the alternative consular arrangements will operate.
The embassy thanked the Kenyan community in Switzerland, its clients, friends and partners for their support and cooperation over the years as it prepares to permanently end its operations.
