German Embassy Addresses Visa Suspension in Kenya

The German Embassy in Nairobi has temporarily suspended visa processing and issuance due to a major power outage affecting its IT systems.

The embassy released a statement on Wednesday explaining that the outage, combined with a backup system failure, has rendered their consular and visa sections non-operational. Officials are unable to issue visas or process applications at this time. Embassy staff are actively contacting Kenyans with imminent travel plans to inform them of the situation. They have assured the public that they are working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

“A power outage & backup failure has severely impacted the IT systems of our consular & visa section. As of now, we can’t issue any visa. No applications can be processed,” the embassy said.

This disruption comes amid an anticipated increase in visa applications from Kenyans seeking to travel to Germany. The surge in visa requests is largely attributed to the recent Labour Mobility Agreement signed between Kenya and Germany during President William Ruto's visit to the European nation. This agreement aims to facilitate the migration of skilled Kenyan workers to Germany, opening up numerous job opportunities in various sectors.

The deal is part of a broader initiative to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and addresses labour shortages in Germany by tapping into Kenya's skilled workforce. The agreement covers a wide range of fields, including healthcare, engineering, and information technology. It is viewed as mutually beneficial, providing employment opportunities for Kenyans while helping Germany meet its labour demands.

However, the current power outage at the embassy has caused significant inconvenience to many Kenyans who had planned to travel to Germany for work, study, or other purposes. While the embassy has not provided a specific timeline for resolving the issue, they have advised applicants to stay informed through official communication channels and to remain patient.