Kenya to open mission in Columbia in footprint expansion

This emerged this week following a meeting between Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei and Colombian Ambassador Pedro Ruiz.

In a social media dispatch after the meeting, Sing’oei said part of their discussions covered plans to hold Kenya-Colombia Political Consultations later in the years and the opening of a diplomatic mission in Bogotá.

Other topics of discussion were Kenya’s participation in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States-Africa High-Level Forum scheduled for March in Bogotá.

“We also agreed to explore deeper collaboration in trade, agriculture and culture,” the PS said.

The opening of a diplomatic mission in Bogotá is part of Kenya’s efforts to deepen relations with Latin America and expand cooperation with Colombia.

Kenya’s first embassy in Colombia signals Nairobi’s growing diplomatic outreach to Latin America, a region where Kenya has been seeking to expand economic and political partnerships.

In May 2023, Colombian Vice President Francia Mina visited Kenya for a three-day official visit. The tour aimed to boost bilateral ties following an MoU signed in 2021 to enhance partnerships.

During the visit, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kenya Investment Authority, Bogota Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Trade hosted the Kenya- Colombia business forum in Nairobi.

The planned diplomatic presence is expected to facilitate closer engagement between the two countries, particularly in areas of commerce, agriculture and cultural exchange.

Sing’oei said both sides also agreed to explore deeper collaboration in those sectors.

This is the latest mission in President William Ruto’s push to expand Kenya’s diplomatic footprint globally.

Since coming to power in September 2022, Ruto has opened several missions, including Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Vatican City, Denmark and Vietnam.

The government has also opened new consulates in Jeddah, Guangzhou, Port-au-Prince and Hargeisa. Kenya currently manages around 70 diplomatic missions abroad, including embassies, high commissions and consulates.

Plans to open a mission in Colombia were first announced in September 2023, when then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visited Medellín.

Gachagua said discussions were underway on opening a consulate to take care of Kenyans living there. Colombia is currently covered by the Kenyan embassy in Havana. At the time, the two states signed the first Joint Commission for Cooperation.

Opening an embassy in Bogotá would also strengthen Kenya’s engagement with Latin American regional blocs and multilateral initiatives involving Africa and the Caribbean.

One such platform is the Celac–Africa High-Level Forum. It brings together leaders from Africa and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to explore cooperation in areas such as trade, development and climate action.

Kenya’s participation in the meeting provides an opportunity to deepen diplomatic and economic engagements.