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US government shutdown slows work at Nairobi mission
The US Embassy in Nairobi.
The US government shutdown of activities has spread throughout the world, where Washington’s diplomatic missions have also suspended regular activity.
The shutdown, occasioned by a lapse in passing financial appropriations by the US Senate, meant ordinary government functions, including formal businesses and meetings, would be suspended.
The US Embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday said regular information updates, including on the daily work of the embassy, would be suspended due issue of lapsed appropriations.
“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 stated.
In fact, US embassies across the world issued similar notices about reduced communication updates on social media, signalling a coordinated response to the funding gap affecting federal operations.
Visa processing
Despite the shutdown, most embassies have reassured applicants that passport and visa processing will continue, depending on the situation.
“At this time, scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at US Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits,” it said.
Residents with upcoming appointments or urgent travel plans are advised to visit the official State Department website at travel.state.gov for the latest updates on embassy operating status and service availability.
The lapse in appropriations affects numerous US government agencies and services, though essential functions critical to safety and security usually continue during such periods.
The freeze comes amid a political stalemate in Washington, where Republican and Democratic leaders are locked in a dispute over the budget that has delayed the passing of a new spending bill.
Despite controlling both the White House and Congress, the Republicans still require the support of some Democrats in the Senate to advance the package. Without cooperation from some Democrats, the funding gridlock could persist for weeks.
Congressional Republicans have proposed a short-term extension to government financing of roughly seven weeks, tied to additional security allocations across federal agencies.
However, the standoff has heightened the risk of a prolonged shutdown, with President Donald Trump and the Office of Management and Budget signalling that non-priority programmes, including staff, should shed staff where money has run out.
US President Donald Trump.
Additionally, the Democrats leveraged President Trump's push for economic rollbacks to challenge both the Republican Party and the administration’s efforts to cut previously allocated funding.
Remaining US support for international programs, development partners, and NGOs, including those in Kenya, could be suspended, reduced, or reconsidered. Funding for key areas such as food security, education, and health may be affected.
These developments may also undermine market confidence, potentially leading to reduced investor interest, currency fluctuations, and delays in trade agreements, including multilateral initiatives like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The Republican-controlled Senate was unable to secure enough votes for a last-minute funding bill that could have prevented the shutdown.
The Republicans sought to pass a clean continuing resolution without additional measures, but fell short of the required 60 votes, holding only 53 Senate seats.
Shutdown history
This marks the first government shutdown since 2018–19 and the fourth under former President Trump, whose earlier terms saw three previous shutdowns, including the longest in US history at 35 days.
Historical records also show that former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama experienced shutdowns lasting 21 and 16 days, respectively, while Ronald Reagan faced at least eight shutdowns during the 1980s.
For Kenyans and foreign nationals requiring US services, the embassy's confirmation that passport and visa processing will continue is reassuring, although delays are likely depending on the shutdown's duration.
Such cutbacks are expected to have an impact on US missions worldwide. Nairobi is already feeling the impact, as its online engagement with the public has been scaled back in line with Washington’s budget deadlock.
