The Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC will conduct a four-day mobile consular service in Columbus, Ohio, to enable Kenyans living in the area to access essential consular services.

The exercise will run from Thursday, August 13, 2026, to Sunday, August 16, 2026.

In a statement shared on its X account on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the embassy said the mobile service would bring consular services closer to Kenyans living in Columbus and surrounding areas.

“The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Washington DC will carry out a Mobile Consular Service exercise in Columbus, Ohio from Thursday, August 13, 2026, to Sunday, August 16, 2026,” the embassy said.

The embassy advised Kenyans seeking services to take advantage of the exercise and follow the official communication on the services to be offered and the requirements.

Embassy services under scrutiny

The mobile consular exercise comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of Kenyan staff serving in diplomatic missions abroad.

In May 2026, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina raised concerns over what he described as a crisis facing Kenyan staff in foreign missions, citing delayed salaries, rent arrears, and inadequate support.

“The situation of Kenyan staff in diplomatic missions abroad is unacceptable. Many are going months without pay, rent is delayed, and they lack even the basic support needed to represent the country,” Olekina said.

He questioned the sustainability of Kenya’s expanding diplomatic presence amid reported financial challenges affecting some missions.

Calls for urgent intervention

Olekina called on Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene in the situation, warning that continued delays could damage Kenya’s international reputation.

“This situation is untenable and continues to damage Kenya’s reputation,” he said.

The senator argued that challenges facing diplomatic missions could point to wider inefficiencies within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and broader financial pressures affecting government operations.

The Embassy’s announcement of the Columbus mobile consular service is part of efforts to extend consular services to Kenyans living outside the capital and make access to government services more convenient.

The four-day exercise is expected to serve Kenyans in Ohio and neighbouring areas who may otherwise have to travel long distances to access services at the embassy in Washington DC.