JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Kenya has officially inaugurated a Consulate General office in Jeddah, a significant diplomatic move aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The opening, announced by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, is specifically designed to enhance service delivery for the estimated 160,000 Kenyan citizens residing in Jeddah and the surrounding regions, aligning with Kenya’s foreign policy commitment to its diaspora.
Diplomatic and strategic mandate
The establishment of the consulate—a diplomatic agreement allowing Kenya to operate a service office in a major Saudi city—was formalized by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir SingOei, representing the Kenyan government, and Fareed Al-Sheihri, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Makka region.
In its statement, the Ministry detailed the office’s core mission: “The consulate general will compliment the work of the Kenya embassy in Riyadh by extending services to the western region of Saudi Arabia, particularly to the thousands of Kenyan nationals living and working in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and surrounding areas as well as further strengthening bilateral cooperation and create new opportunities for partnership in line with Saudi vision 2030 and Kenya’s vision 2030 development agenda.”
The new office also revealed its 2024-2027 strategic plan, which focuses on maintaining diplomacy and accountability while vigorously advancing Kenya’s interests and the shared prosperity between the two nations.
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Focus on economic ties and diaspora welfare
During the inauguration ceremony, PS SingOei underscored the consulate’s role in deepening bilateral commerce, investment, labor, tourism, education, and cultural interaction with Saudi Arabia.
He also commended the newly established consulate staff for their teamwork and urged future collaboration.
The Kenyan Consulate General is supported by the presence of consuls from several other nations in Jeddah, including Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, the Philippines, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, and The Gambia.
