Kenya reviews its Foreign Policy to advance national interests

BY IRENE AGUM (PCO) 

The Government is reviewing its Foreign Policy to make it relevant, effective, and inclusive in advancing the country’s national interests and values. 

Speaking in Nairobi, Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi stated that global trends are now influencing and redefining Kenya’s foreign policy, which is why the Foreign Policy document must take these trends into account. 

“Kenya is not an island; we must therefore have an all-inclusive foreign policy that considers the national interests of the country. Kenya’s interests are as wide as the country seeks to participate in matters of global agency,” Mudavadi said. 

He pointed out that establishing a pool of veterans for mediation and special envoys on peace, technology, and the blue economy, for instance, is part of the broader strategy to project Kenya’s image to attract investment, promote tourism, and strengthen diplomatic ties. 

The Kenya Foreign Policy, published in November 2014, has served as the framework for Kenya’s diplomatic interactions over the past decade. 

The CS observed that, in the context of a dynamic international landscape characterized by the decline of multilateralism and the emergence of a multipolar world, there is an increasing need to review the policy. 

“This review will ensure that it remains effective in promoting Kenya’s national interests and values, anchored on the overarching objective of protecting, promoting, and projecting the nation’s interests,” Mudavadi said. 

He added that the review seeks to identify gaps in the current foreign policy, present perspectives on Kenya’s foreign policy priorities, and consider proposals for the implementation and dissemination of Kenya’s Foreign Policy while prioritizing national interests and advancing Kenya’s role on the global stage. 

“The review of Kenya’s Foreign Policy comes at a time when the world is experiencing a shift in global order as new alliances and rivalries emerge,” he said. 

He disclosed that diaspora engagement has been invigorated to contribute to Kenya’s national development agenda, which has been actualized through the designation of a fully-fledged State Department for Diaspora Affairs. 

“As one of the pillars of Kenya’s foreign policy, Diaspora Diplomacy aims to harness the diverse skills, knowledge, expertise, and resources of Kenyans abroad and facilitate their integration into the national development agenda,” he said. 

Mudavadi alluded to the deployment of soft power, including cultural diplomacy, educational exchanges, and international media, as elements for not only shaping public opinion but also building and maintaining global influence. 

“Kenya continues to leverage its soft diplomacy tools, such as cultural exchanges, training, capacity building, peace interventions, sports, and art. Kenyan sportspeople, especially athletes, continue to raise the country’s flag and image globally,” he said.