NAIROBI, Kenya – The United States Embassy in Nairobi has announced a partial suspension of its operations following the shutdown of the US government.
In a notice shared across its social media platforms, the embassy said it would not provide regular updates until full operations resume, except in cases involving urgent safety and security information.
“Due to the lapse in appropriations, this account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” the embassy said.
Despite the disruption, the embassy clarified that key services such as passport processing and visa issuance would continue both in the US and at diplomatic missions abroad, “as the situation permits.”
Members of the public were urged to check the official State Department website, travel.state.gov, for the latest information.
The shutdown in Washington has forced federal agencies, including embassies, to scale down activities as funding dries up. Thousands of US government workers, at home and overseas, have been directly affected.
For Kenyans and other foreign nationals seeking consular services, the continuation of passport and visa processing offers some reassurance, though delays are likely depending on how long the funding standoff lasts.
This marks the first US government shutdown since 2018–2019, when operations ground to a halt for 35 days—the longest in American history. That shutdown, like the current one, occurred under President Donald Trump.
The latest standoff stems from the failure of the Republican-controlled Senate to pass a government funding bill.
GOP lawmakers pushed for a “clean” continuing resolution to extend funding but fell short of the 60 votes required, with only 53 seats in their control.
The US has a long history of shutdowns, with Ronald Reagan overseeing at least eight during his presidency in the 1980s.
Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all grappled with funding impasses that temporarily crippled government services.
The embassy in Nairobi did not specify how long the suspension of updates would last but stressed that emergency communication remains a top priority.
