European State Set To Establish Embassy In Nairobi
Estonia has announced intentions to construct a physical embassy in Nairobi later this year, significantly increasing its diplomatic presence in Kenya and the wider East African area.
Daniel Erik Schaer, Estonia’s non-resident Ambassador to Kenya, made the statement on May 26.
Schaer confirmed that he will personally go to Nairobi in early September to oversee the new diplomatic mission’s debut.
“I am very, very happy to be finally based in Kenya, and that’s why we are opening the embassy in Nairobi. And sometime this year we’ll be opening,” stated Ambassador Schaer.
Estonia to officially open its Kenyan embassy in Nairobi later this year, Ambassador Daniel Schaer confirms.
New mission will serve as a key hub for trade, technology and deeper bilateral ties between the two nations. #FixingTheNationNTV @NationFmKE @EricLatiff @MariamBishar… pic.twitter.com/ZYcZVB0gGP— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) May 26, 2026
The ambassador, who presently represents Kenya and South Africa while also serving as Ambassador-at-Large for Africa, described the development as a long-awaited and very personal achievement.
He stated that the move marks the beginning of a new and more committed chapter in bilateral ties.
He described it as a journey spanning two full decades: “It’s been 20 years of work, so one of my dreams is coming true.”
Until now, Estonia has had no physical embassy in Nairobi, relying instead on an Honorary Consulate and non-resident ambassadors to handle its diplomatic responsibilities in Kenya on a part-time basis.
The Baltic nation, home to just 1.3 million people, runs a lean global diplomatic network of only around 36 embassies, leaving it without a physical presence in approximately 155 countries worldwide.
On the African continent, Estonia previously maintained just one physical embassy, located in Cairo, Egypt, making Nairobi its second African diplomatic post once the new mission officially opens.
To bridge the gap left by its limited physical presence globally, Estonia has embraced digital governance, with all diplomatic and consular services designated to be handled entirely online by the government.
Estonia’s e-Residency programme: How Kenyans can work and operate businesses from home.
Eric Latiff speaks to Ambassador Daniel Schaer. #FixingTheNationNTV @nationfmke @ericlatiff @mariambishar @blinkypenguin pic.twitter.com/qJQ3rjmQAl— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) May 26, 2026
This implies that all of its government services are online, eliminating the need for long queues that are time-consuming.
The new embassy is expected to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, and green energy sectors where Estonia has carved out a strong international reputation over the past two decades.
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The timing carries special significance, as Estonia and Kenya are marking 25 years of formal diplomatic relations this year, with the embassy opening seen as a fitting tribute to that milestone.
Kenya is simultaneously celebrating 50 years of ties with the European Union, of which Estonia is a member state.
This makes 2025 a landmark year for both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two nations.
This comes days after the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, announced plans to open an embassy in Nairobi following talks with President William Ruto.
Ouattara said the decision was confirmed during talks with Ruto on May 10, during the Africa Forward Summit that attracted over 50 heads of state globally.
European State Set To Establish Embassy In Nairobi
