Estonia is set to open its first embassy in Nairobi later this year, marking a significant step in its relationship with Kenya and signalling growing European interest in East Africa.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Estonia’s non-resident ambassador to Kenya, Daniel Erik Schaer, who described the move as the fulfilment of a goal nearly two decades in the making.
“I am very, very happy to be finally based in Kenya,” Schaer said. “That’s why we are opening the embassy in Nairobi. Sometime this year we’ll be opening.”
The ambassador said he plans to travel to Nairobi in September to oversee the launch of the mission, which will become Estonia’s second physical embassy on the African continent after Cairo.
For years, Estonia has managed its ties with Kenya through honorary consuls and diplomats based outside the country. The new embassy represents a clear shift towards a more direct and permanent presence in the region.
Schaer, who also serves as Estonia’s ambassador to South Africa and Ambassador-at-Large for Africa, called the development deeply personal.
“It’s been 20 years of work,” he said. “One of my dreams is coming true.”
Estonia will open its first embassy in Nairobi later this year, marking a new chapter in Kenya-Estonia relations and boosting cooperation in trade, technology and green energy.
The Baltic nation of 1.3 million people maintains a relatively small diplomatic network, operating only about three dozen embassies worldwide. Much of its government and consular work is handled digitally, part of a wider e-governance model that Estonia has become internationally known for.
That digital approach has helped Estonia build a reputation as one of Europe’s most technologically advanced states, particularly in online public services and digital identity systems.
Kenyan officials view the embassy as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in areas such as technology, trade and green energy, sectors where Estonia has increasingly sought partnerships beyond Europe.
The timing is also symbolic.
This year marks 25 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Estonia, alongside Kenya’s 50th anniversary of ties with the European Union. Diplomats from both countries have described the embassy opening as an important milestone in strengthening political and economic engagement.
The development comes amid broader diplomatic activity in Nairobi, which continues to position itself as a regional hub for international missions and multilateral organisations.
Only weeks ago, Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara also announced plans to establish an embassy in Nairobi following talks with President William Ruto during the Africa Forward Summit.
As more countries expand their footprint in Kenya, Nairobi’s role as East Africa’s diplomatic and economic centre appears to be growing steadily.
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