The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has announced its closure on May 25, 2026, suspending all routine consular and administrative services, including visa processing and public inquiries.
In a statement on May 24, the U.S. said the embassy will remain closed in observance of Memorial Day, a United States federal holiday.
Normal operations are expected to resume on the next working day following the holiday.
“We will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day.”
Details Of the U.S. Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on the last Monday of May to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Originally known as “Decoration Day,” the observance began in the 1868 following the American Civil War, when communities decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags. The name “Memorial Day” became official in 1967.
“Joint Resolution 6, 23 February 1887 (24 Stat. 644), U.S. Congress allows the day of each year which is celebrated as “Memorial” or “Decoration” Day to be a holiday for all per diem employees of the Government, on duty at Washington or elsewhere in the United States,” reads a section of the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Since 1971, the holiday has been observed on the last Monday of May under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating a long weekend while honoring all U.S. service members who died in military service.
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Official observances include a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time and flag protocol, in which the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff until noon, then raised to full staff.
The day is also widely associated with the unofficial start of summer in the United States, marked by travel, public gatherings, and retail activity, alongside ongoing discussions about maintaining its commemorative significance.
US Blocks Visas for Travelers Linked to Uganda
The United States has escalated emergency measures aimed at containing a rapidly worsening Ebola outbreak in East and Central Africa after temporarily halting visa issuance for foreign nationals who recently traveled through Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.
The move follows a broader suspension of visa operations announced earlier this week by U.S. embassies in Kampala, Kinshasa, and Juba.
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In separate notices issued by the State Department, the U.S. embassies confirmed that all routine visa services had been paused effective May 18, 2026.
The suspension affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including applications for tourists, students, business travelers, and exchange visitors.
“The Department of State is committed to ensuring that its visa process upholds the highest standards for U.S. public health and safety,” the embassy notices stated.
“In light of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Department is temporarily pausing all visa operations.”
The restrictions do not invalidate visas already issued, according to the notices. Applicants whose appointments were canceled are expected to be rescheduled once operations resume.
