Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Nairobi

History of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Nairobi

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Nairobi was officially established in April 1982, with R. Supangkat serving as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (LBBP) of Indonesia to Kenya. Prior to this, Kenya was under the jurisdiction of the Indonesian Embassy in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kenya themselves have been established since July 1979.

Office Locations and Development

• 1982 (April): The Embassy initially operated out of a rented room at the Intercontinental Hotel, City Hall Way, Nairobi.
• 1982 – 1998: The office moved to the 3rd floor of Utalii House on Uhuru Highway.
• 1997: Demonstrating long-term commitment, the Indonesian government purchased a 3,780-square-meter plot of land on Menengai Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
• 1998: Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony by Ambassador Isslamet Poernomo on April 27, 1997. The mission began occupying the new building on April 16, 1998, and it was officially inaugurated on May 7, 1998.

Diplomatic Reach and Accreditations

Indonesia’s diplomatic ties with other nations currently under the Nairobi mission's jurisdiction also span several decades:

• Somalia: Established December 21, 1960.
• DR Congo: Established 1963 (Leopoldville/Kinshasa); reopened March 21, 1984. (Note: Accreditation shifted from KBRI Dakar to KBRI Nairobi in 2016).
• Mauritius: Established May 27, 1983.
• Seychelles: Established December 16, 1985.
• Uganda: Established January 12, 1989.

The Embassy also serves as the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). As of 2020, the mission's jurisdiction officially covers Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Uganda, along with the aforementioned UN bodies.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

A significant milestone occurred in 2022 when the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya was opened in Jakarta on March 13. Ambassador Galma Mukhe Boru was appointed as Kenya's first resident Ambassador to Indonesia in December 2022. Previously, Kenya’s interests in Indonesia were managed via their embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.