Andreas Peschke: Profile of the new EU Ambassador to Kenya

Germany’s veteran diplomat Andreas Peschke has arrived in Kenya to take up his new assignment as the European Union’s Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Kenya, returning to Nairobi more than a decade after he first served in the country as Germany’s ambassador.

Peschke announced his arrival on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in a message in which he welcomed his new posting in Swahili.

“Jambo, Kenya! Habari gani? Arrived last night as new EU Ambassador designate to Kenya. Nafurahi sana kufika tufanye kazi pamoja.”

His arrival follows his nomination by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas as part of the bloc’s 2026 diplomatic rotation.

The European External Action Service announced on June 3 that Peschke had been nominated as EU Ambassador to Kenya.

At the time, he was serving as Germany’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini.

The EU formally announced his nomination alongside 32 other ambassadorial nominations and seven deputy heads of delegation in June.

The bloc said such appointments are subject to the necessary administrative procedures and, where applicable, approval from host countries.

Peschke's appointment places a diplomat with previous experience of Kenya at the head of the EU Delegation in Nairobi.

Peschke was born in Dresden, Germany, in 1969 and studied African Studies in Leipzig, Cologne and London before joining Germany’s Federal Foreign Office in 1996.

His early overseas assignments included the German Embassy in Nigeria from 1999 to 2002 and the German Embassy in Russia from 2002 to 2004.

He subsequently worked in Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, including in its European affairs structures.

His first major assignment in Kenya came in 2013, when he became Germany’s ambassador to the country. The diplomat served in Nairobi until 2015.

Peschke subsequently returned to senior positions at Germany’s Foreign Office, including responsibility for European affairs.

The EU described him in its appointment announcement as having previously served as Director General for EU and EU Member States at the German Federal Foreign Office.

Before his appointment to the EU position, Peschke served as Germany’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini.

He took up the South African posting in October 2021 and remained there until his move to the EU assignment in Kenya.

During his time in South Africa Peschke acted as the head of the German Embassy in Pretoria, with responsibility covering South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini.

His diplomatic career has therefore included assignments and responsibilities spanning African affairs, European policy and relations with countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The career trajectory also reflects his academic interest in Africa, having studied African Studies before joining the German diplomatic service.

Peschke takes over the EU Delegation in Nairobi from Henriette Geiger, who headed the mission from 2021.

The EU Delegation is responsible for representing the European Union in Kenya and coordinating the bloc’s engagement with the country.

The EU's Nairobi mission describes EU-Kenya relations as covering a broad range of areas, while its current programmes include trade, investment, climate action, governance, security and development cooperation.

Also, the delegation is involved in wider regional initiatives, including cooperation on maritime security and the Western Indian Ocean.

The change comes as Kenya and the EU continue to deepen their economic relationship.

The Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement is among the key frameworks governing their trade relationship, while the EU's wider Global Gateway initiative provides another avenue for investment and infrastructure cooperation.

Additionally, the EU has continued to engage Kenya on security and regional stability.

In June 2026, the bloc and Kenya held a high-level conference in Mombasa focused on enhancing maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Peschke's appointment also comes during a period in which the EU is placing renewed emphasis on its relationship with Africa.

In June, Kallas held discussions with African ambassadors to the EU on strengthening EU-Africa relations, with security, trade and multilateral reforms among the issues discussed.