Kenyan Government’s Move to Open Embassy in Vatican City Awaits Confirmation: Apostolic Nuncio

Nairobi, 12 November, 2025 / 11:02 PM

The Kenyan government has approved the establishment of a new embassy in the Vatican City, a move that the representative of the Holy Father in the East African nation says now awaits the confirmation of the Holy See.

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen told ACI Africa on Wednesday, November 12 that the Vatican City had not yet officially approved Kenya’s decision.

“The approval came in this evening, though officially we have no confirmation as yet,” Archbishop van Megan said in response to ACI Africa’s inquiry regarding reports that Kenya’s Cabinet had endorsed the proposal to establish an embassy in the Vatican City, the city-state surrounded by Rome, which is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

While the Cabinet has approved the initiative – aimed at strengthening Kenya’s diplomatic engagement with the Holy See and the global Catholic community – the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya has noted that the Vatican’s formal consent is still required before the plan can move forward.

According to The Star, a Kenyan daily, the Cabinet at Nairobi State House on Tuesday, November 11 chaired by the President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, approved the establishment of the embassy as part of a broader strategy to deepen bilateral relations, enhance cooperation in peacebuilding, climate action, and humanitarian initiatives.

The move, the Kenyan government has been quoted as saying, is also aimed at enhancing the country’s engagement with faith-based institutions.

“The move will also boost cooperation with Catholic development agencies that run more than 7,700 schools and 500 health facilities in Kenya, supporting the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda through expanded partnerships in education, healthcare, and social welfare,” reads in part The Start report of November 11.

Formal diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Holy See were established in 1965. Over the decades, the Catholic Church has played a pivotal role in Kenya’s social and economic development, operating thousands of schools and health institutions that serve communities nationwide.

The new embassy is expected to leverage this long-standing institutional presence and embed Kenya’s diplomacy in a broader “moral” and humanitarian engagement framework.

In addition to the Vatican mission, the Cabinet also approved the establishment of new embassies in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Hanoi, Vietnam, as part of efforts to expand Kenya’s diplomatic footprint and strengthen trade, investment, and strategic relations.

The approvals reflect a deliberate diplomatic expansion integrating moral and humanitarian dimensions through the Vatican mission, sustainable development and green economy partnerships via Denmark, and enhanced Asian trade and infrastructure ties through Vietnam.

According to The Star report, the diplomatic realignment underscores Kenya’s ambition to amplify its influence in global affairs, attract investment, and foster cooperation across key sectors of development and governance.