Kenya is set to permanently close its embassy in Switzerland as the government undertakes a wider restructuring of its diplomatic missions, a move that marks a significant change in relations between the two countries, which have maintained diplomatic ties for more than six decades.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei says the decision is part of an ongoing rationalisation of Kenya’s diplomatic footprint, involving the closure of some missions and the opening of others in line with the country's strategic priorities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Sing’Oei said the government was reviewing its global diplomatic presence to ensure that resources and missions are aligned with Kenya’s national interests.
He added that a comprehensive statement outlining the changes would be issued in due course, while assuring Kenyans that access to consular services would not be interrupted.
The development comes against the backdrop of a long-standing relationship between Kenya and Switzerland, dating back to the country's independence in 1963.
Switzerland recognised Kenya's independence that year, and the two countries formally established diplomatic relations in 1964. Switzerland subsequently opened an embassy in Nairobi, initially focusing its engagement on development cooperation before expanding into trade, governance, anti-corruption efforts and the promotion of human rights.
Kenya's diplomatic presence in Switzerland, however, is relatively recent. The decision to establish an embassy in Bern was announced during a visit to Kenya by then Swiss President Alain Berset in July 2018.
The commitment was fulfilled in April 2020 when Ambassador Andrew Kihurani presented his credentials as Kenya's first ambassador to Switzerland with a permanent seat in Bern. The embassy chancery was subsequently established in October 2020 and officially commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta during his visit to Switzerland on May 19 and 20, 2022.
During the 2022 visit, Kenya and Switzerland signed agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including international peace missions, research, education and innovation.
The two countries have also maintained regular political consultations following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022. Their first formal political consultations were held in Nairobi in November 2023, with discussions focusing on bilateral relations, trade, climate change and Switzerland's role in the United Nations Security Council.
Economic ties have also been an important part of the relationship. According to Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at 156 million Swiss francs in 2023.
Kenya mainly exports agricultural products, including flowers, tea and coffee, to Switzerland, while Swiss exports to Kenya largely comprise pharmaceutical and chemical products. Approximately 50 Swiss companies also operate in Kenya.
The relationship extends beyond trade, with cooperation in education, research and innovation, including opportunities for Kenyan researchers to apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Despite the planned closure of Kenya's embassy in Bern, Switzerland maintains its diplomatic representation in Nairobi, where its mission handles political, economic, financial, legal, scientific, educational and cultural matters.
The Kenyan Embassy in Bern has indicated that its consular section will close on November 30, 2026, as the mission prepares to wind down its operations. Clients with pending applications are expected to receive further communication on arrangements for collecting processed documents.
Sing’Oei has maintained that the restructuring will not leave Kenyans without access to consular assistance, although the government is yet to provide full details of the alternative arrangements.
The closure therefore marks a shift in how Kenya will manage its diplomatic engagement with Switzerland, even as the two countries retain their longstanding bilateral relationship.
