Matt Baugh has been appointed British High Commissioner to Kenya.
He succeeds Neil Wigan, who departed Nairobi in August 2025 to take up a new post as Director General for Strategy and Delivery at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.
“Mr Matt Baugh OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya in succession to Mr Neil Wigan OBE, who has taken up another Diplomatic Service appointment”, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a press statement issued on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Baugh, who takes up his post this month, is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience across Africa, Europe, and conflict-affected regions.
“Baugh will take up his appointment during April 2026,” the statement adds.
Career profile
He has previously served as Director for Migration & Conflict (2024-2025), Director of Euro-Atlantic Security (2022-2024), among other senior roles.
He is currently undergoing pre-posting training, including Swahili language.
Below is his curriculum vitae
Year
Role
2026
Pre-posting training (incl. Swahili language training)
2024 to 2025
FCDO, Director, Migration & Conflict
2022 to 2024
FCDO, Director, Euro-Atlantic Security
2020 to 2022
Brussels, Ambassador to EU Political & Security Committee later Director, Political & Security, UKMis EU
2019
Pre-posting training (incl. French language training)
2016 to 2019
DExEU, Director, Strategy & Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State
2013 to 2016
FCO, Deputy Director, Africa
2010 to 2013
Mogadishu, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2009
UK Higher Command and Staff Course
2008 to 2009
DFID, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State
2006 to 2007
DFID, Deputy Director, Iraq Department
2004 to 2006
DFID-FCO-MOD, Head, Joint Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit
2002 to 2004
Khartoum, DFID Country Representative
2000 to 2002
DFID, Head of Global Emergencies
2001 to 2002
DFID, Head of Afghanistan Crisis Unit
1999 to 2001
DFID, Head of Kosovo Crisis Unit
1998
Joined DFID Fast Stream
1997
Joined MOD Fast Stream
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