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• British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan OBE, will be leaving his post after two years in the role.  

• Mr Wigan leaves for a promotion to Director General Strategy and Delivery within the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan OBE, announced today his departure from Nairobi at the end of this month after two years in Nairobi.  

Reflecting on his time in Kenya, the High Commissioner said:  

I am extremely sorry to be leaving Kenya after a whirlwind two years. The Kenya-UK partnership has gone from strength to strength – whether in trade, investment, technology, innovation or cultural links, benefitting both countries and peoples.  

Since I arrived in 2023, the close partnership between our two great nations has seen the historic visit of His Majesty King Charles III, the signing of the new Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership, Kenyan marines trained by the UK, vital infrastructure investments including Nairobi Railway City and so much more.  

I have also seen first hand the incredible potential of Kenya and her people. From taking part in a Maasai elders meeting, to seeing how UK support is helping establish women-led businesses in Wajir, from the tea plantations of Bomet County to the Silicon Savannah, I’ve no doubt that Kenya’s future is bright. I have visited most of Kenya’s counties – I am sorry not have visited them all.   

Kenya and the UK are going far, together, and it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey.  Asanteni sana na kwaherini.

Mr Wigan leaves Kenya to take up the new position of Director General Strategy and Delivery at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London. 

Background for editors 

• For information on UK activity in Kenya, follow us on , , and on . See also British High Commission Nairobi website.

• British High Commissioner, Neil Wigan, arrived in Kenya in August 2023.  

• His successor will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Ed Barnett, will be Chargé. 

• Further detail on the Strategic Partnership can be found in the joint statement from PCS Musalia Mudavadi and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy: Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership: Joint Statement - ÌìÃÀÓ°Ôº