EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN KENYA
ABOUT THE EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN KENYA:
Embassy of Ireland – Kenya reopened in 2014 and works to deepen bilateral political relations between Kenya and Ireland, serve the needs of Irish citizens, strengthen trade and investment opportunities between both countries and support the strengthening institutional partnerships that respond to the development needs of the country.
The Embassy works closely with Irish state agencies to promote trade, tourism and inward investment. This includes support for the Business Ireland Kenya network as part of a wider programme of work being undertaken in line with the implementation of the Government’s Policy on International Development and the Africa Strategy. The Embassy also works closely with key Irish state agencies to promote trade, tourism and inward investment, including Enterprise Ireland, Board Bia and more.
Ireland is fortunate to have a diaspora who makes a meaningful contribution to our country, whether they are building economic development, raising awareness of our culture or creating a positive image of Ireland here in Kenya. See highlights from the Embassy here
TEAM IRELAND IN KENYA
The work of the Embassy relates to the three key pillars of Ireland’s new Foreign Policy – serving people, enhancing prosperity and promoting the values of the Irish people. The Embassy works to enhance the political and economic relationship between Ireland and Kenya that will deliver economic growth and jobs; maintain and strengthen links with our Irish diaspora; and promote Ireland and Irish Culture.
While State Agencies (Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland) are not represented in Kenya, the Embassy will be pleased to act as a liaison, to promote trade, tourism and inward investment to Ireland.
The Embassy also provides consular services and assistance to Irish citizens resident in and visiting Kenya.
The work of the Embassy builds on the strong reputation Ireland enjoys because of the very substantial contribution of Irish missionaries and Non Governmental Organisations to Kenyan society over many years. It supports and oversees Irish Aid funds (amounting to around € 7 million per annum) which are directed through missionary and Non Governmental Organisations to deliver programmes that benefit the disadvantaged in Kenyan society.
EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN KENYA NEWS:
MINISTER COVENEY HOLDS TALKS WITH KENYAN AND SOMALI COUNTERPARTS
July 2021: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., led a three-day visit to the Horn of Africa.
On the first day of his visit, Minister Coveney marked deepening Kenya-Ireland development and business ties, launching three new agriculture and trade programmes and the BIK Doing Business in Kenya Guide. He witnessed the signature of a new contract between Irish company Darva and the Kenyan Senate, and signed the Ireland Kenya Double Taxation Agreement with the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury.
While visiting Mogadishu on Thursday, Minister Coveney held talks with Somalia’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdirizak; and Minister for Defence Hassan Hussein Haji. The meetings focused on the security situation in the country and Somalia’s imminent elections, including the participation of women in those elections.
Minister Coveney also met with UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, James Swan; the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) leadership and the Force Commander; the EU Training Mission and the EUCAP Somalia Head of Mission, Chris Reynolds of the Irish Coastguard; as well as civil society groups including the Somali Women’s Development Centre.
On the final day of his visit, he today held talks with the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Raychelle Omamo, in Mombasa. As well as bilateral relations, they discussed the security situation in the Horn of Africa, including the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Ireland and Kenya are both elected members of the UN Security Council.
Prior to his departure on Friday 23rd July, Minister Coveney met with the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Tigray.
Speaking at the conclusion of his visit to the region, Minister Coveney said:
“Ireland has long ties with the Horn of Africa region, including through education, business and trade, and I am delighted to further deepen those ties through this visit.
“The Horn of Africa is a priority for Ireland in our work on the Security Council, and we have been extremely active on issues in the region since taking up our seat on the Council. As we approach our presidency of the Council in September, I look forward to continuing to work with leaders from across the region, including our partners in Kenya who sit on the Security Council with us, to address the suffering caused by conflict in the region.”
THE MASAI MARA JOINS THE ‘GLOBAL GREENING’ TO MARK ST PATRICK’S DAY 2021
March 2021: The world-famous Masai Mara joined Ireland’s “Global Greening”, when hundreds of landmarks around the world are lit up in green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 17. The Global Greening first began 11 years ago in Australia, when the iconic Sydney Opera House was illuminated in green on 17 March 2010. Now, almost 500 iconic sites and landmarks are ‘greened’ each year.
The Embassy of Ireland began Greening the Big Five in 2016, collaborating with key stakeholders to raise awareness of crucial efforts to protect endangered wildlife in Kenya. In 2016, the Embassy collaborated with Kenya Wildlife Services, to green Ahmed the iconic elephant at the National Museum. In 2017, a statue dedicated to Kyela and Lankeu, a mama and baby rhinoceros was greened at the Nairobi National Park. The Embassy greened a Lion statue made of recycled flip-flops in 2018 to bring attention to ocean waste and recycling initiatives. The statute of the Lion, named Taji, was donated to the Kenya Wildlife Service and now sits at the entrance to The Nairobi National Park. In 2019, a leopard statue named Chui was Greened. The statue, constructed entirely from scrap metal, was and made by a local artisan. Last year “Nyati” the buffalo constructed out of over 2000 recycled Tusker Malt glass bottles was unveiled in Collaboration with East African Breweries Limited.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Source: Embassy of Ireland