Kenya has moved its diplomatic mission in Haiti to Mexico City, Capital FM reported. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said on Tuesday that the move had already taken effect. It is part of a wider overhaul of Kenya's missions abroad.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei announced the changes in a statement dated November 10. He said the exercise would close some missions, relocate others and open new ones. "Accordingly, the Government is undertaking a phased rationalization of Kenya's diplomatic footprint globally," Sing'oei said.
Haiti is not the only mission on the move. Kenya has also shifted its mission in Havana, Cuba, to Kingston, Jamaica. The government plans to open new missions in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. According to the ministry, these will strengthen Kenya's presence in Central Europe and Central Africa.
Kenya's embassy in Bern, Switzerland, will close in the first phase. The ministry said the closure would not harm Kenya's long-standing ties with Switzerland. The Kenyan High Commission in London will take over diplomatic matters, as it did previously.
Kenya will keep its Permanent Mission in Geneva. That office will continue to represent the country at the United Nations and other international bodies based in the city. It will also provide consular services to Kenyans living in Switzerland, the ministry said.
The government said geopolitical uncertainty, tight budgets and competing national development needs drove the changes. It said it would roll them out gradually to keep disruption to a minimum for Kenyans abroad and for Kenya's international partners.