About the Mission

Kenya established diplomatic relations with Botswana in 1966, when the latter attained independence. Initially, Kenya’s High Commissioner in Lusaka, Zambia was accredited to Botswana. The two countries are represented at Ambassadorial levels in Nairobi and Gaborone.

The Kenya High Commission was opened as a consulate in December 1997 following a request by the Kenyan Community in Botswana to former President Daniel Arap Moi during his state visit to Botswana. The Kenyan Diaspora in Botswana was growing in numbers and they felt the need for consular services in Botswana as opposed to getting the services in either Windhoek or Pretoria due to inconveniences and the costs involved. The Consulate was upgraded to a fully fledged High Commission in 2001.

The two countries have warm bilateral relations. This has been demonstrated by the exchange of high level visits.
In November 2013 H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta made an official visit to Botswana at the invitation H.E. President Seretse Khama Ian Khama during which they discussed various ways to promote the existing bilateral ties.
Other high level visits include that of Botswana’s former President H.E. Festus Mogae to Kenya in 2001and that of retired President Daniel T. Arap Moi in 2000. The two former Heads of state put in place a mechanism of Joint cooperation by signing an Agreement on Cultural, Educational and Scientific cooperation.

The two countries have also established a Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation under which various memoranda of understanding have been signed in various fields including; education, science and technology, health, Agriculture and livestock, sports, meteorological services, bilateral air services and information and communication technology. The Joint Permanent Commission for cooperation Committee meets on a biennial basis and ensures follow up on implementation of the MOUs.