Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi
Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Nairobi Ubalozi wa Ufilipino nchini Nairobi | |
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Location | Nairobi |
Address | 001 Mzima Springs Road, Lavington |
Coordinates | 1°16′17.8″S 36°46′44.8″E / 1.271611°S 36.779111°E |
Ambassador | Marie Charlotte G. Tang |
Website | nairobipe |
The Embassy of the Philippines in Nairobi is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Kenya. Opened in 1975, it is located in the Lavington neighborhood of western Nairobi, across from the East African regional headquarters of the International Organization for Migration.
History
[edit]Although diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Kenya were established in 1967,[1] a resident mission in Kenya was not opened until July 4, 1975, during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, when Ismael D. Quiambao was deployed to the country to serve as the mission's chargé d'affaires.[2] The first resident Philippine ambassador to Kenya, Mauro O. Baradi, arrived in Nairobi shortly thereafter on August 1, 1975, presenting his credentials to Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta a few days later.[2]
On January 16, 2019 the embassy went on lockdown due to the Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack three kilometers (1.9 mi) away, with staff also advising all Filipinos in Kenya to stay indoors.[3]
Chancery
[edit]The chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi relocated to Lavington on November 5, 2018,[4] moving from its previous location near the State House on State House Road.[5] A new consular section was later opened on May 6, 2019, with the space being formally inaugurated six days later.[6]
Staff and activities
[edit]The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi is headed by Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, who was appointed to the position by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 27, 2021.[7] Prior to her appointment as ambassador, Tang, a career diplomat, served as Deputy Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs,[8] and prior to that served as Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou.[9] Her appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on September 1, 2021,[7] and she presented her credentials to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 1, 2022.[1]
Other notable diplomats deployed to the embassy include Domingo Lucenario,[10] who previously served as ambassador from 2009 to 2013.[2] Gina Lopez, former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was also a regular visitor to the embassy while she was living in Kenya as a follower of Ananda Marga.[11]
In addition to Kenya, the embassy exercises jurisdiction over several countries in Central and East Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Comoros, and is also accredited as the Philippine mission to the United Nations Environment and Human Settlements Programmes.[12] Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia were previously under the embassy's jurisdiction until 2007, when all three countries were placed under the Philippine Embassy in Cairo,[13] although Ethiopia was transferred back to the jurisdiction of the Nairobi mission on October 30, 2024.[14] Tang was subsequently appointed as ambassador to Ethiopia, in addition to her duties as ambassador to Kenya, by President Bongbong Marcos, Duterte's successor, on January 2, 2025.[15]
Many of the embassy's activities involve building and strengthening socioeconomic and cultural ties between the Philippines and Kenya. Among these include organizing Kenya's first-ever exhibition of Philippine traditional art at the Nairobi National Museum,[16] and donating hygiene kits to underprivileged Kenyan schoolgirls.[17] It has also been involved in providing to the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers and other Filipinos in Kenya and other countries, such as facilitating the evacuation of Filipinos from South Sudan during that country's civil war,[18] repatriating OFWs stranded in Kenya,[19] and also holding consular outreach missions in cities throughout its jurisdiction.[20][21]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "PH Ambassador Tang Presents Credentials to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. April 2, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Embassy History". Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Macasero, Ryan (January 16, 2019). "Philippine embassy in Nairobi on lockdown after terrorist attack". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Temporary Closure of Philippine Embassy Due to Transfer to a New Location" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. October 17, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Location Map". Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Nairobi PE Opens the New Consular Section of the Chancery" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. May 12, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ a b ACTION: CONFIRMED – Appointment From June 4, 2021 To June 13, 2022 (PDF) (Report). Commission on Appointments. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "PH Embassy in Nairobi Welcomes New Ambassador" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Moran-Floirendo, Margie (March 19, 2016). "Ballet Philippines brings Filipino artistry–and friendship–to China". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Calleja, Niña (May 9, 2015). "DFA mourns death of multiawarded diplomat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Ramirez, Joanne Rae M. (September 3, 2019). "Gina Lopez: She wanted to change the world, & she did". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Countries of Jurisdiction". Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Embassy History". Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "Transfer of Jurisdiction over Ethiopia from the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt to the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. November 5, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Flores, Helen (January 2, 2025). "Philippines envoys to Hungary, Ethiopia named". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Pedrajas, Joseph (June 20, 2022). "PH opens 1st exhibit in Kenya museum". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Casucian, Jiselle Anne (November 9, 2021). "Philippines gives hygiene kits to Kenya students". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Esmaquel II, Paterno R. (December 23, 2013). "PH tells Filipinos to leave South Sudan". Rappler. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "3 stranded OFWs in Kenya repatriated". The Philippine Star. April 23, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI EXTENDS CONSULAR SERVICES, OVERSEAS VOTING REGISTRATION TO FILIPINOS IN KAMPALA, UGANDA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. June 21, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI EXTENDS CONSULAR SERVICES TO FILIPINOS IN RWANDA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Nairobi. October 4, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.