Kenya’s National Security Adviser, Ambassador Monica Juma, observed the need for “greater prosperity in the grand sphere of our shared maritime domains for all nations to interact in a free open world guided by the rule of law and where multilateralism truly prevails.”
Thoe were her remarks at the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Symposium for Peace and Development in Eastern Africa in early March were the latest by a senior Kenyan government official on the topic of the Indo-Pacific.
But other officials have also referenced the county’s important place in the Indo-Pacific as the gateway to the African continent.
The topic of the Indo-Pacific was a major point of discussion during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent visit to Kenya.
What is the “free and open” Indo-Pacific and why should Kenyans care? The term Indo-Pacific broadly refers to a vast region stretching from the eastern shores of Africa across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and ending in the eastern Pacific.
It accounts for more than half of the world’s population and nearly two-thirds of the global economy and has been described as the world’s economic engine.
As importantly, it is a geographized political reality, one that encapsulates the gravity generated by current political realities.
For some such as Japan, it has become a lodestar, a guiding normative geostrategy. For others, it has become synonymous with great power competition.
What is clear, however, is that the continued rise of the Indo-Pacific means that the world’s centre of gravity is shifting from the West to the East. Accordingly, several countries and regional organizations have taken the proactive step of addressing the Indo-Pacific with the aim at guiding policies of national interest.
Kenya, for instance, has awoken to the importance of the Indo-Pacific region. In 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta observed that Kenya’s prosperity was linked to the “the epicenter of seismic economic phenomenon” in the Indo-Pacific. Despite this and other remarks, Kenya is yet to announce an Indo-Pacific outlook like other countries and regional organisations such as the ASEAN or the EU.
We therefore made the case for Kenya to formulate an Indo-Pacific outlook in our recent issue brief.
There are three main reasons why Kenya should adopt an Indo-Pacific outlook. Firstly, it would allow Kenya to clearly express its national interests in the Indo-Pacific region, providing guidelines for engagement in key areas such as digital connectivity, governance, human security, ocean governance, climate change, green growth, and security and defence.
This outlook would also position Kenya to benefit from increased investment, trade, and support across multiple areas of interest, giving added significance to its economic foreign policy pillar focused on improving trade with existing partners and exploring new trade and investment opportunities.
Secondly, adopting an Indo-Pacific outlook would empower Kenya to assert its agency and freedom of action within a complex geopolitical landscape characterised by great power competition. Kenya aims to maximize the benefits of its Indo-Pacific involvement while avoiding alignment with any particular geopolitical camp.
By formulating an Indo-Pacific outlook, Kenya would establish a framework that addresses concerns related to the potentially destructive effects of great power rivalries, while emphasizing its support for dialogue and cooperation throughout the region.
Thirdly, developing an Indo-Pacific outlook would position Kenya as a regional and continental leader. African countries have been largely excluded from Indo-Pacific discussions due to neglect of existing strategies and the absence of their own frameworks.
By taking the lead in developing an Indo-Pacific outlook, Kenya can encourage other countries in the region and across Africa to actively participate in global discussions on the future direction of the Indo-Pacific. This inclusive approach would ensure that diverse African voices and interests are represented.
In summary, Kenya should issue a clear Indo-Pacific statement that succinctly defines its national interests in security, economy, and politics within the context of great power dynamics.
Such an outlook would provide clarity and direction to Kenya's foreign policy, helping it navigate the complex geopolitical landscape.
Moreover, engaging with the Indo-Pacific would present a potential win-win situation for Kenya by attracting foreign investment and technology transfer, which would contribute to economic growth and development.
Stephen Mogaka is an Independent Consultant based in Nairobi, Kenya who specializes in the international relations and political economy of East Africa.
Brendon J. Cannon is an Assistant Professor of International Relations and Security Studies in Abu Dhabi.