Kenya has reaffirmed its position as a key diplomatic and economic player on the global stage, with new missions, expanded trade links, and a stronger focus on protecting citizens abroad.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr Musalia Mudavadi said that in the recent past Kenya has made great achievements in foreign relations, diaspora diplomacy, and regional peace initiatives.
Speaking on Wednesday during the ministry’s third quarterly media engagement in Nairobi, Mudavadi said, “Our desire through the new Foreign Policy and the Foreign Policy Mashinani initiative is to develop open engagement with citizens and the media so that we can share information as often as possible.”
He underscored the government’s commitment to transparency in diplomatic communication.
Mudavadi disclosed that Kenya continues to grow its diplomatic footprint, with new consulates opened in Guangzhou China, and Jeddah Saudi Arabia adding that the government has also approved the establishment of new embassies in Copenhagen, Denmark; Hanoi, Vietnam; and at the Vatican City.
“The move strengthens Kenya’s moral and development diplomacy and boosts cooperation with Catholic development agencies that manage over 7,700 schools and 500 health facilities in the country,” Mudavadi said.
He added that Kenya’s active participation in major international meetings including the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and the United Nations General Assembly has yielded significant benefits.
Kenya secured a Sh22 billion Samurai financing facility to support green industrialisation and, through FOCAC, will now enjoy 100 percent duty-free access to China for exports such as coffee, tea, and avocados.
Mudavadi said the ministry’s Foreign Policy Mashinani Initiative launched in Kisumu in October aims to bridge the gap between national policy and local awareness. The forum brought together leaders from all six Nyanza counties to discuss how foreign policy aligns with development at the grassroots.
“We have had situations where policies at county level caused distress and affected our international obligations,” he noted. “This initiative ensures we are all on the same page.”
Similar engagements are planned for coastal counties before the end of the year.
Kenya’s diaspora continues to play a vital role in national development with Mudavadi saying that more than 430 Kenyans have secured jobs abroad through bilateral labour agreements since 2023, while thousands access digital work through the Ajira programme.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, remittances rose by 18 percent to Sh651.7 billion in 2024, and as of November 2025, they had surpassed the one trillion shilling mark.
“This is a very significant contribution to our economy and to keeping our currency strong,” the Prime Cabinet Secretary stated.
He said the ministry is negotiating new bilateral labour agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan to secure more skilled employment opportunities.
Mudavadi cautioned that while diaspora employment brings many opportunities, it also presents risks from rogue agents who exploit desperate job seekers.
He revealed that the government has rescued over 500 Kenyans trafficked to foreign countries since 2022 and delisted 600 rogue recruitment agencies.
“Our missions have rescued hundreds of Kenyans lured to the Far East by false promises of lucrative jobs, only to end up in forced labour, cybercrime, and even organ trafficking,” he said.
He noted that the government continues to collaborate with the National Employment Authority to ensure only vetted agencies handle foreign job placements. Awareness campaigns are also being intensified to prevent trafficking, while victims receive consular support and safe repatriation.
Mudavadi said Kenya’s relations with its East African neighbours remain strong, with Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan being key economic and strategic partners.
Trade within the East African Community (EAC) grew to Sh321 billion in 2024, more than double the 2020 value.
Uganda remains Kenya’s largest export market, accounting for 11 percent of total exports.
He confirmed that two Kenyan activists, Nicholas Oyo and Bob Njagi, who had gone missing in Uganda in October, were released following high-level diplomatic talks between President William Ruto and President Yoweri Museveni.
Mudavadi also said Kenya continues to advocate for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan, where political instability persists.
“Kenya stands for one Sudan and a peaceful Sudan,” he emphasised, noting that President Ruto, in his capacity as EAC Chair, has been actively involved in the regional peace process.
He said Kenya will continue to support mediation through the African Union, IGAD, and other international mechanisms to restore stability in the Horn of Africa.
Mudavadi acknowledged rising reports of Kenyans being lured to join foreign conflicts, particularly in Russia and Ukraine.
State Department for Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Roseline Njogu said that her department remains committed to serving Kenyans wherever they are and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Njogu said efforts to repatriate mothers and undocumented children from Saudi Arabia are ongoing.
She explained that through joint efforts between Kenyan and Saudi authorities, 59 mothers and 73 children have been safely returned home.
PS Njogu said Kenya’s diaspora is instrumental in advancing cultural diplomacy through community associations and national day celebrations that showcase Kenyan culture abroad.
“Kenyans in the diaspora remain great ambassadors of our heritage,” she said, adding that the ministry is documenting diaspora achievers for recognition as honorary cultural diplomats.
State Department for Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei said that they are working closely with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv to ensure no Kenyans are being involuntarily trafficked or recruited to serve in foreign militaries.
Dr Sing’oei clarified that investigations showed the recruitment was conducted by private networks rather than governments and that Kenya was engaging both countries diplomatically to secure the safety of its citizens.
He lauded the adoption of Swahili as an official UNESCO language, calling it a milestone for East Africa’s cultural identity.
By Darlene Kuria and Naif Rashid
