The review of Kenya's foreign policy is well on course, and will undergo a thorough process, the culmination of which will be a Sessional Paper to be presented in Parliament for adoption, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said.
Mudavadi, also Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said that the ongoing review will adopt broader consultations with political, socio-economic and other stakeholders and the final product will be owned by every Kenyan.
“We want to ensure that we navigate the new Kenya foreign policy from the corridors of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to the public. We are looking towards getting a policy paper owned by Kenyans,” he said.
Mudavadi said this will require a sufficient partnership between the ministry and parliament as a critical arm of government and representative of the people.
He said many of the amendments to be made on the Kenya foreign policy-2014 must be guided by parliamentary input for the document to reflect the aspirations of Kenyans moving into the future.
“We cannot leave it hanging anymore. Since many issues we want done need the help of parliament, then even with the launch of the final draft, parliament has to step in and ratify a sessional paper on Kenya’s foreign policy,” he stated.
Mudavadi was speaking when he chaired a roundtable discussion on the review of Kenya’s foreign policy with representatives from the Council of Governors in Nairobi on the ongoing stakeholders’ engagement forums being held by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
He said key partnerships by all stakeholders are important in enriching the current policy document for it to reflect a holistic approach to Kenya’s foreign policy that must be well projected, promoted and protected.
“We should remember that Kenya’s interests come first, and at the same time understand how to navigate the partnerships and engagements that will reflect the interests of our nation and people,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi pointed out the importance of stakeholder engagements as they help explore opportunities for strengthening foreign policy, which is primarily a function of the national government but impacts everyone across the divide.
He said counties are integral players in shaping and advancing Kenya’s foreign policy that will actively foster economic diplomacy.
“County governments are invaluable partners in the ongoing review process. Together, we aim to fortify international partnerships that attract investment, boost tourism, and promote cultural exchange, among other mutually beneficial initiatives,” he said.
“Your presence here signifies a commitment to enhancing and deepening collaboration between the national and county governments, to ensure that our Foreign Policy addresses issues of mutual interest.”
The Prime CS said strengthening Kenya’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy is vital in ensuring a prosperous future and counties play a critical role as Kenya leverages her strategic location to promote trade and investment in traditional and new markets.
The Council of Governors in a speech read by Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi on behalf of the CoG Vice Chair, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, said County Governments will bolster their partnership with the ministry to ensure Kenya achieves a forward-looking foreign policy.
CoG said a strong foreign policy requires the voices and perspectives of diverse actors, since inclusivity enriches diplomatic efforts, allowing Kenya to present a united front.
“County Governments are at the heart of economic development and are uniquely positioned to support Kenya’s foreign policy through economic diplomacy. By fostering partnerships with international investors, counties can create avenues for increased investment and sustainable job creation,” read part of the speech.
“As we address climate change challenges, County Governments can contribute to Kenya’s climate diplomacy efforts by sharing local innovations, fostering green investments, and upholding environmental standards that align with our International commitments.”
The review process aims to amend and enrich the 2014 Kenya foreign policy that was anchored on peace diplomacy, economic diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, diaspora diplomacy and cultural diplomacy to broaden it to reflect the emergence of new issues and trends such as Global Health, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Space Diplomacy and Digital Diplomacy.
To date, the Ministry has engaged several stakeholders including foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Global Health Sector representatives, Maritime and the Blue Economy sector, Peace and Security stakeholders, Academia, Media representatives, the Civil Society among others.
On Thursday the team is set to meet the representatives of the youth and students in Kenya and later in the month meet with the Judiciary, Public Service, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and Parliament through relevant departmental committees, Faith-based entities before holding a session with the President ahead of the launch scheduled for early December.
