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KEPSA PARTICIPATES IN THE COLLOQUIUM ON REVIEW OF KENYA’S FOREIGN POLICY
- Published On: 2024-07-30
On 30th July 2024, KEPSA participated in the Colloquium on Review of Kenya’s Foreign Policy held in Nairobi. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and attended by top government officials led by Hon. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs; Amb. Dr. Monica Juma, National Security Advisor; principal secretaries; private sector representatives; academia and think tanks among other stakeholders. KEPSA was represented by Mr. James Mureu, Chair of KEPSA Economic Diplomacy Sector Board.
The Kenya Foreign Policy, 2014, which the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs seeks to review to reflect the current domestic and international realities, is driven by the commitment to project, promote and protect Kenya’s interests and image on the global stage through a forward-thinking and innovative approach to diplomacy. The colloquium sought to identify gaps, key perspectives and priorities that will guide the review of the policy.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Cabinet Secretary emphasized the need for Kenya to adapt its foreign policy to address national interests in a multipolar world. He also highlighted the importance of precision in tackling global changes while highlighting the complex relationship between climate change and security, with a focus on technology's role in shaping public opinions and influencing global trends.
The event featured various panel sessions including Kenya Foreign Policy Evolution and the Future Perspective; Geopolitical Context of the Kenya Foreign Policy; Global Governance; and Peace, Diaspora, Digital, Social-Cultural, Environment, Economic and Commercial Diplomacy.
In a panel discussion on Economic and Commercial Diplomacy, Mr. Mureu noted the importance of sharing information and engaging with the private sector to achieve national goals. He highlighted bilateral treaties with other countries as an opportunity for growth, especially within the region. He also demonstrated the criticality of treating Kenyan allies with respect and leveraging bilateral trade agreements they have to enhance relations with other countries.
Mr. Mureu shared the platform with Mr. Alfred K'Ombudo, Principal Secretary for Trade; Dr. David Ndii, Chairperson, Presidential Council of Economic Advisors; Dr. Eric Rutto, President, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI); Mr. Antony Mwangi, CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Mr. Timothy Gitari Gakuu, The National Treasury and Economic Planning, in a panel that was moderated by Amb. Joseph Masila, Director, Economic & Commercial Directorate.
The colloquium was the kickstarter of upcoming stakeholder engagement and public participation process by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs that will include written submission, roundtables, retreats and social media engagements that will be employed to facilitate collection and collation of views to inform the review process. The final stage in the review process will pave the way for the publication and launch of the revised Kenya Foreign Policy.