- The marketing role has always been under the control of trade attaches dispatched to foreign missions.
- A number of technocrats and politicians allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration are said to be eyeing the positions in the upcoming reshuffle.
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A major shake-up is looming in the country's diplomatic missions abroad as President William Ruto seeks to buttress and refocus his foreign policy.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hinted at the imminent changes that will see a number of ambassadors and high commissioners recalled, reshuffled or replaced.
Speaking in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday, Gachagua revealed that all the ambassadors, high commissioners and their deputies will soon be summoned to Nairobi for a briefing on the government's diplomatic and trade policies.
"We will soon summon ambassadors, high commissioners and their deputies to Nairobi and those who are reappointed to head missions abroad will have to sign performance contracts to market our products abroad. If they fail, we will recall them and appoint more competent ones," Gachagua said during a meeting with Kenyans in Rome on Tuesday.
The DP's remarks signal a departure from the past with Kenya's heads of missions abroad expected to take the lead in marketing the country's products and opening up trade opportunities for Kenya.
In the past, Kenya's heads of mission have not been integral in marketing with their roles traditionally being representing the country's foreign policy interests.
The marketing role has always been under the control of trade attaches dispatched to foreign missions.
"We want to move away from the traditional diplomacy of attending meetings, cocktails, barbecues and the like. Seventy per cent of their job will be to pursue the commercial interests of our country, to market our agricultural products, to ensure that our exporters get the best deals,'' Gachagua said.
Gachagua has previously revealed that the government will refocus the foreign missions to playing an integral role in the country's economic policy with marketing coffee, tea and other agricultural products set to become part of their roles.
President Ruto is yet to make any changes to the country's foreign missions abroad since taking over office except for those who returned after completing their tour of duty.
There are reports that the President would use the vacancies to reward some of his close associates who were named as Chief Administrative Secretaries but their posts were quashed by the courts.
A number of technocrats and politicians allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration are said to be eyeing the positions in the upcoming reshuffle.