President William Ruto during a meeting with the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Qu Dongyu in Rome, Italy, on January 30, 2024. PHOTO | PCS
By: William Waithaka
Worth Noting:
- In recent times Kenya has witnessed a myriad of “Diplomatic Blunders” that are notable in stature and that portray a totally divergent diplomatic prowess of Kenya from the Uhuru’s tenure.
- Kenya’s current presidency was seen hosting questionable individuals who posed as Belarusian leadership and business class. The other notable incident was the “Irans president’s visit fiasco”. Regionally the back and forth on Congo was an issue that really elicited reactions that projected very conflicting standing between the two recent administrations.
- What could the progression of Uhuru Kenyatta’s foreign policies mean to the Rutos administration?
Kenya’s President William Ruto happened to deputize the most eloquent, charismatic and highly vigorous President Uhuru Kenyatta in the first and second terms of President Kenyatta’s tenure.
The Uhuru Presidency was deemed as “Vijana” presidency and in the History of the country signified a shift from older generation leadership and thinking to more novel, youthful and vigorous political leadership
The first term of the Uhuru presidency saw firsts in Africa and in the world take place. Faced with criminal cases, the Uhuruto duo had to deal with a myriad of issues that Kenya had never had an opportunity to face.
Led by President Uhuru, he handed over power to his deputy then (now the president) to fly and face the ICC at The Hague.
President Uhuru had Kenya issue its first printed foreign policy document. This document gave shape to President Uluru’s 2nd term in office.
Many scholars and state craft professionals have termed President Uluru’s foreign policy as the best Kenya has ever had. A milestone across Africa has been seen as Africa’s reference point and the belief is that in the future presidents across the African continent will call upon President Kenyatta for counsel and guidance.
Finalizing the written policy provided Kenya with a broad framework on foreign relations, diplomatic engagements in the globalized environment.
The government document even further outlines how the country will evolve due to foreign relations
In recent times Kenya has witnessed a myriad of “Diplomatic Blunders” that are notable in stature and that portray a totally divergent diplomatic prowess of Kenya from the Uhuru’s tenure.
Kenya’s current presidency was seen hosting questionable individuals who posed as Belarusian leadership and business class. The other notable incident was the “Irans president’s visit fiasco”. Regionally the back and forth on Congo was an issue that really elicited reactions that projected very conflicting standing between the two recent administrations.
What could the progression of Uhuru Kenyatta’s foreign policies mean to the Rutos administration?
The good will emanating from the Uhuru policies would definitely mean advantageous to his predecessor in many variations. These variations would fall within the objectives of the Kenya’s foreign policy i. e a). A Peaceful b). United c). Prosperous as embodied in Kenya’s National Anthem, the Kenya Constitution and its National roadmap (Kenya Vision 2030).
On the same breadth, Kenya has been caught in a universal discourse that has many from Haiti and Kenya disagreeing with the other foreign issue that seems not to augur well with Haitians sovereignty. Internally, Kenya’s executive is facing a disagreeing call by the High court’s not to send Kenyan troops to Haiti .
Several foreign trips to China, meant to seek investments are touted as floppers.
Despite and albeit the huge expenditure by Mr Ruto and his administration, this trips and costly excursions seem to translate into naught and non-beneficial which leaves a lot to question.
What’s the legislative role in foreign policy, development, amendment, implementation etc or is this just at the disposal of the executive
Ruto has seen Kenyans react to his in and out trips with many quipping he is a foreigner in his own country.
What harm is in an administration diverting from a superb existing government policy that would accelerate and offer continuum benefits. The transition from president Kibaki to President Uhuru saw the West make attempts of disregarding the Uhuru Presidency. But events after only saw the Oval Office make the decision on giving Nairobi an official invite with a 21 Gunnsalute for president Uhuru.
What followed saw, Kenya feature highly in the Obama African tour that had trade deals and extensions of the Agoa treaty (extended).
Vatican made a visit to Nairobi during the Uhuru reign. Not to forget other super powers such as India, Britain, Israel, Japan and China
The Ruto reign has witnessed a visit by the monarch, and that has drawn a lot of condemnation from the pan Africanists’ and liberal Kenyans
To wrap this up, does Kenyans feel that the nation’s foreign policy is shrouded with unnecessary and frantic excursions that are not translating into tangible or coherent economic advantages?.
The state spokesperson has issued contradicting statements to that of the PS foreign affairs, so has there been a tug and pull by cabinet secretaries in the Ruto administration. Can this mean well in the eyes of our close and far neighbors and partners
The author is Jubilee Party Gatanga Sub County chairperson
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