Kenya’s revised foreign policy is designed to address the interests of citizens and reposition Kenya's foreign engagements on the dynamic global landscape, Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has said.
He said the move to have the policy anchored in law with parliamentary input will position Kenya's interests first in the ever-changing global world.
Speaking during a meeting with the Senate standing committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, Mudavadi said that the grand strategy is to move the policy from corridors of the ministry and make it citizen-centred.
“We want our international and diplomatic engagements to help improve the livelihoods and welfare of every Kenyan as we protect the interests of our country which come first,” he said.
“What we are curing is the traditional way of doing things under hidden cameras, we need to be transparent and forthright in our engagements and be accountable to the citizens in our foreign engagements.”
The committee had sought statements from the ministry with regards to shaping Kenya’s global image amidst rapid changes in the global environment.
The Prime CS insisted that once the sessional paper is operationalized, a number of reforms will be adopted, including making public treaties and agreements signed with other countries, once approved by parliament.
Mudavadi also said transparency on the issuance of scholarships will be part of the sessional paper adoptions, bringing to an end the inequality and unfairness witnessed in the past.
He emphasized that Kenyans must be part of progressive engagements that aim to benefit the country, including available opportunities in the education sector abroad.
Mudavadi also told the committee that the sessional paper seeks to entrench the foreign affairs docket under the National Security Council framework to help with matters related to budgetary allocation and provisions that will give the ministry more room to strengthen its engagements.
He added that Kenya is looking for ways of broadening its asset base in its missions abroad and part of the sessional paper is also to address the issue of diplomatic appointments to have the career diplomats given an upper hand of at least 70 per cent, while other experienced officers are integrated in the system at a level of at least 30 per cent.
“This once entrenched in the policy will clear the ambiguity and guide future nominations and appointments,” Mudavadi said.
The committee was chaired by Isiolo County Senator, Fatuma Dullo.
