Mudavadi: Revised foreign policy to put Kenyans first

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 Musalia Mudavadi has said.

Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, told the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations that the grand strategy is to move the policy from corridors of the ministry and make it citizen centred.

He said the move to have the policy anchored in law with Parliamentary input will position Kenya's interests first in the everchanging global world.

“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,” said Mudavadi.

Mudavadi told the committee which sought statements from the ministry with regards to shaping Kenya’s global image that the rapid changes in the global environment necessitated the review of the policy with an approach rooted in pragmatism, foresight and long-term perspective.

“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.” said Mudavadi.

“Once we actualize the sessional paper, we will adopt a number of reforms including making public treaties and agreements signed with other countries, once approved by Parliament. This will help the public to understand areas where they feel they can engage and invest abroad among other benefits.”

Mudavadi also told the committee that 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 be part of progressive engagements that aim to benefit the country including available opportunities in the education sector abroad.

“Every part of Kenya must get an equal opportunity when it comes to sharing of such opportunities like scholarships. Even if we later decide to bond the students in giving back to the nation once they have graduated, this must be done with fairness and transparency. Scholarships are not a military secret. The sessional paper will outline how the beneficiaries will be identified and the criteria will be known for Kenyans to appreciate that indeed there was transparency,” Mudavadi explained.

“We are also looking at how to deal with the unscrupulous travel agents and agencies that lure Kenyans and dupe innocent citizens when it comes to securing job opportunities abroad. We want to put measures that the Ministry will use to sensitize the citizens so that they are not swindled and left high and dry.” added the Prime CS.

Mudavadi, while responding to the question on how to protect Kenyans seeking jobs abroad, said Parliament should also help the Ministry to further strengthen the laws that will help in prosecuting the rogue agencies and also help in sensitizing and cautioning Kenyans of areas or regions that are a no-go zone, where they might face consequences and become victims of human trafficking or slavery.

“Our engagements with Parliament or even other institution are to help save lives. This is a campaign that should be wholesome. The awareness should not be left for the ministry or government, since when Kenyans suffer abroad it pains many back home,” said Mudavadi.

“As a ministry we are also cautioning Kenyans that once you are wheels-up, the moment you land on the soils of the other country, the laws that govern your stay once the plane has landed are the laws of the foreign country,” he added, as he urged Parliament to help in enacting laws that will help the ministry navigate legal processes for Kenyans incarcerated abroad.

The Prime CS further stated: “When you get involved in a traffic offense abroad or you are caught in a brawl in a night club then you want the case to be a Kenyan problem, and yet we don’t have monetary provisions to help in dealing with such cases, you are putting us in a tight corner. Especially to our young people who still want to adventure, they need to be cautious of the same.”

Mudavadi also told the committee that the sessional paper seeks to entrench the foreign affairs docket under the National Security Council framework to help on matters related to budgetary allocation and provisions that will give the ministry more room to strengthen its engagements.

He said 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% of the appointments while other experienced officers are intergrated in the system at a level of at least 30%.

“This once entrenched in the policy will clear the ambiguity and guide future nominations and appointments.” he said.

“We are facing fiscal difficulties and some of our missions are grappling with financial constraints but we are working on making sure that our diplomatic missions and the diplomats are not underfunded for this can also be very dangerous.”