Kenya will close its embassy in Bern, Switzerland, at the end of this month as part of a government plan to reorganise the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
In a notice dated November 9, 2026, the embassy said it would close permanently following instructions from the Government of Kenya, with its consular section ceasing operations on November 30.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said on Tuesday, November 10, that the decision was part of the “ongoing rationalization of Kenya’s diplomatic footprint globally”, under which some missions will close while new ones will open.
“Kenyans will continue to receive proximate services despite this rationalization process,” Sing’oei said on X, adding that a more detailed statement would follow.
The embassy has urged Kenyans whose documents are ready for collection to pick them up before the closure. Those who applied for services on or after November 1 will be contacted with instructions on how to collect their documents.
“Information on alternative consular arrangements for Kenyans in Switzerland will be shared through the Embassy’s website and official channels,” the notice said.
The embassy also expressed gratitude to the people and institutions it has served over the years.
“The Embassy sincerely thanks all its clients, the Kenyan community in Switzerland, and its friends and partners for their support and understanding over the years,” it said.
The embassy in Bern was officially opened on April 2, 2020. Switzerland has had an official presence in Kenya since independence in 1963, and the two countries have maintained longstanding diplomatic and economic ties.
Switzerland mainly imports agricultural products from Kenya and exports pharmaceutical and chemical products to the country.
The closure comes as the government continues to invest in its foreign service, having recently set aside a further Sh1.86 billion to upgrade Kenya’s missions abroad.
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