Estonia has revealed intentions to establish a physical embassy in Nairobi later this year, representing a major enhancement in its diplomatic representation in Kenya and the wider East African region.
The declaration was made by Estonia’s non-resident Ambassador to Kenya Daniel Erik Schaer on May 26, who affirmed he will personally visit Nairobi in early September to supervise the inauguration of the new diplomatic mission.
“I am extremely pleased to finally be based in Kenya, which is why we are establishing the embassy in Nairobi. And sometime this year we’ll be opening,” stated Ambassador Schaer.
The ambassador, who currently represents both Kenya and South Africa while also serving as Ambassador-at-Large for Africa, characterized the development as a long-awaited and deeply personal milestone, noting that the move indicates a new and more committed phase in relations between the two nations.
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.”
Previously, Estonia had maintained no physical embassy in Nairobi, depending instead on an Honorary Consulate and non-resident ambassadors to manage its diplomatic duties in Kenya on a part-time basis.
The Baltic nation, with a population of just 1.3 million people, operates a streamlined global diplomatic network of approximately 36 embassies, leaving it without a physical presence in around 155 countries worldwide.
On the African continent, Estonia previously maintained only one physical embassy, located in Cairo, Egypt, making Nairobi its second African diplomatic post once the new mission officially opens.
To compensate for its limited physical presence globally, Estonia has adopted digital governance, with all diplomatic and consular services designed to be handled entirely online by the government.
This means that all of its government services are accessible online, eliminating the need for time-consuming queues.
The new embassy is anticipated to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, and green energy sectors where Estonia has established a strong international reputation over the past two decades.
The timing holds particular significance, as Estonia and Kenya are observing 25 years of formal diplomatic relations this year, with the embassy opening viewed as an appropriate tribute to that milestone.
Kenya is concurrently commemorating 50 years of ties with the European Union, of which Estonia is a member state, making 2025 a significant year for both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two nations.
This follows recent discussions involving the President of Côte d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara and President William Ruto.
Ouattara indicated that the decision was confirmed during talks with Ruto on May 10, during an event that attracted over 50 heads of states globally.