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"Leveraging our National Interests through
Diplomacy at the Highest Level"
3RD QUARTERLY PRESS BRIEFING
AMB. MONICA JUMA, DPHIL, CBS
CABINET SECRETARY
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VENUE:
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, NAIROBI
DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2018
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Distinguished Members of the Fourth Estate
Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Good afternoon
1. I am delighted to welcome you to the 3rd Press Briefing of the Cabinet
Secretary for Foreign Affairs on Kenya's highest level engagements. I thank each
one of you for honouring our invitation.
2. Over time, a public debate is emerging on the place of Kenya internationally
and the value of Kenya's high-level engagements. In the last 20 days, we have
had high level engagements with three world leaders and permanent members of
the United Nations Security Council, namely USA, United Kingdom and China. In
addition, we have also engaged at the regional level, with an IGAD summit,
ministerial sessions on the AU reform process as well as on our negotiations on
the African Caribbean and Pacific with the AU, referred to as Post Cotonou
negotiations. We shall be departing for the United Nations General Assembly –
which commences next week – which will among other things explore the status
of the current multilateralism and seek to strengthen a rule-based international
system.
3. It is not questionable that Kenya, like all nations, must employ strategic
tools, especially high-level diplomacy, to take advantage of opportunities in a
currently complex theatre as well as anticipate and manage a complex spectrum
of risks, threats and potential challenges that can impact negatively on our
stability and process towards attaining our prosperity. In the current rapidly
changing global environment, peace and security, trade, foreign direct investment
(FDI), environmental sustainability are the cornerstones of our diplomacy.
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4. The sharp end of our diplomacy is hewn to two key tenets: one, the realities
that a medium-sized country must contend with, and two, the importance of
maintaining Kenya's relevance in the world. It is useful to restate, at this
juncture, that at 55 years, Kenya's geostrategic certainties continue to be shaped
by three factors: one, our economic reliance on the innovativeness of our human
capital; two, our diversity and three, an evolving geo-political situation that is
steeped in ruthless competition.
5. It is in this context that we have engaged high-level diplomacy as an
invaluable force multiplier in accelerating the momentum for growing the value of
engagements at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
6. High-level engagements, particularly in the form of Presidential trips help
to project Kenya's image globally, consolidate Kenya's relevance internationally,
shape and strengthen our regional and international footprint as well as
international legitimacy and leadership; build trust and credibility for the
leadership of the country, and generate new trade and investment opportunities.
Furthermore, the visits put a spotlight on Kenya on many dimensions including
tourism, culture, and other service sectors.
7. From a cooperative point of view, high level visits enable Kenya to engage
and work closely with others countries in the advancement of our national
interests.
8. In my briefing today, I will speak to the fundamentals and strategic
imperatives that inform the anchoring of our foreign policy on diplomacy at the
highest level through H.E the President's engagements and his delegated
mandate to the Deputy President, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, other
Cabinet Secretaries and high-level officials. I will sketch ways through which
Kenya’s foreign engagements have nurtured and built on existing partnership
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networks to pursue peace, security, regional integration and prosperity of our
country from 2013 to date.
9. Looking back to the last six years, I can confidently confirm that the high-
level diplomacy paradigm has yielded manifold outcomes in three broad
spheres:-
a) Kenya has established solid and productive relationships across the world: in
Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe, Asia and the other parts of the world;
b) Nairobi has become one of the most visited capitals for foreign heads of state
and heads of government and preferred destination for international meetings
and conferences, and
c) Most fundamentally, interest and investment in our country has grown a
thousand fold – translating into economic growth.
10. So far, we had had organized 49 outbound presidential visits. The common
thread is the drive to engage in ways that support our economic
transformation agenda generally and more recently focused in the Big 4
agenda, social development and regional peace and security. To illustrate
the value of these visits, may I focus attention on visits undertaken in 2018.
11. We have had five (5) high level outbound engagements, with lots of value
from each. These are:
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NO DATE COUNTR
Y/EVENT
VALUE
1. 14 – 17 march 2018
State visit to Cuba
i. 100 Cuban medical specialists deployed to
Kenya’s Public Health facilities ii. 50 Kenyan medical personnel to receive post
postgraduate training in Cuba iii. Signing of a collaboration pact between Kenya
and Labiopharm, a state corporation in Cuba, for
Malaria Vector control, iv. Signing of a collaboration pact between Kenya
and Bio-Cuba Farma, another State Corporation in Cuba for manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals in Kenya
v. Agreement reached for collaboration in the areas of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries sectors among others.
2. 29 March – 2nd April
2018
State visit to Mozambiq
ue
Agreed to: i. Review of the Joint Commission for Cooperation
(JCC); ii. Waive Visa requirements for citizens visiting
either country to promote trade and people to people contacts;
iii. Cooperate in Energy Sector, in which case
Kenya will access gas and coal from Mozambique at cheaper rates;
iv. Review the BASA t increase frequencies of
Kenya Airways to Maputo. Currently Kenya
airways flies 5 times weekly among others
3. 16-21 April
2018
Common wealth Heads of Governme
nt Meeting
(CHOGM) London
i. Diplomacy Joined at least 5,000 participants from
government, business, and civil society. (CHOGM) in
a discussion that focused on promoting
prosperity, safety, sustainability and fairness with the
theme: ‘Towards a common future’. Also
delivered an address at Chatham House,
highlighting Kenya's efforts in achieving inclusive
economic growth.
ii. Trade & Investment: Visited the London Stock
Exchange (LSE) for a meeting with investors where he
promoted Kenya as an investment destination
iii. Security and regional development
4. 5 – 12 June 2018
Participati on in the Outreach Session of
the G7 Leaders’
Summit in Montreal Canada
Besides strengthening Kenya’s relationship with the G7 Countries, H.E. The President was able to:
i. Secure Kshs. 200 million towards the hosting of
the Blue Economy conference. ii. Kenya secured a commitment from Master Card
Foundation to increase its support of over 100 million dollars to cover Girls Education in Kenya.
iii. Solidified President's role as an emerging global leader. G-7 leaders lauded Kenya's leadership in hosting the upcoming blue economy conference. They pledged to support
the conference which they recognized as the next strategic step in advancing the Charlevoix (Quebec) agenda. Canada confirmed
its readiness to co-host the conference with Kenya. Kenya leadership was also recognized as one of about 40 countries worldwide that have
banned the use of single use plastics.
iv. Consolidated the President's role as the de
facto leader on Regional Integration in Africa. (a) The leaders of Kenya, Senegal and South Africa agreed to bolster trade and operationalize CFTA and harness the huge unexploited opportunities for bilateral trade. (b) Kenya and South Africa to co-host an African led investment conference in Nairobi in late
2018 to discuss strategies for increasing intra- Africa trade, incentives to increase it and smart partnerships to increase competitiveness of
African goods and services.
v. Trade and investment. Canadian investors
and business leaders, keen to expand their footprint in Kenya and undaunted by the fact that scheduling constraints made it impossible for the
President to address their gathering, committed to meet him in New York in September
during the UNGA meeting. 10 multinational Canadian companies are scheduled to come to New York for a meeting with
the President on September 27, 2018.
vi. Development program: (a) Kenya's participation in the G-7 meeting gives us a first- mover advantage to harness additional resources that will become available to protect oceans and seas, (b) Mastercard Foundation agreed to fund an innovative TVET program to make it more responsive to the needs of the labor market
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- mover advantage to harness additional resources that will become available to protect
oceans and seas, (b) Mastercard Foundation agreed to fund an innovative TVET program to make it more responsive to the needs of the
labor market and a viable and attractive option for the youth.
Diplomatic
i. UN reaffirmed its decision to enlarge its imprint
in Kenya including through the service center.
ii. UN Secretary General sought the President's
counsel on Somalia and South Sudan
iii. Several heads of state, including Canada,
Jamaica, South Africa, Senegal, and Rwanda,
accepted the President's invitation to attend the
blue economy conference
iv. PM Trudeau invited H.E. to Montreal for the
Women Deliver" conference in Vancouver on June 3-
6, 2019 - asked Kenya to convene the African women
input into Vancouver.
v. South Africa reaffirmed its invitation for a state
visit before end of 2018 and Senegal extended
invitation to H.E. for a visit in January 2019,
Canada and Kenya, both interested parties, to
provide reciprocal support in the bid for a seat in UN
Security Council in 2021.
5 24 – 27 August 2018
Official Visit to the USA
i. Two business deals worth US $ 237 million
were signed between the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation(OPIC) and two private
firms;
US $ 232 million for financing the construction and operation of Kipeto Wind
Farm that will deliver 100 MW grid connected wind power plant in Kajiado County.
A US $ 5 million commitment was made towards expansion of Twiga Food
distribution network leading to the improvement of food security and wages for agricultural workers.
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ii. The US government granted Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA), the Last Point of
Departure (LPD) status allowing it to facilitate
direct flights between Kenya and the US. The
inaugural flight between Nairobi and New York, ii. Bechtel Corporation committed to build the 473
Km modern superhighway worth US $ 3.5 billion from Nairobi to Mombasa on a Public Private Partnership arrangement. Further Discussion is underway.
iv. Secured support for KDF to fight terror, piracy and other transnational crimes.
v. Establishment of Kenya-US Trade and
Investment working group to optimize AGOA opportunities for the next 7 years
vi. MOU on Infrastructure signed to facilitate
participation of USA private sector in infrastructural development in Kenya in line with the Big 4 Agenda;
6. 31 Aug- 5 Sep 2018
FOCAC Summit,
Beijing, China
i. Secured Public Private Partnership for two
infrastructural projects:
A 30 km expressway from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Westlands
The Development of Dongo Kundu Special
Economic Zones on Mombasa ii. Kenya to benefit from US$ 60billion announced
by H.E. Xi Jinping to support development in Africa,
iii. Kenya to also benefit from the more than US$
10 billion Chinese Private Sector investment in
Africa, among others.
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12. Besides the specifics outlined above, the engagements offered the
opportunities for closer bilateral collaboration with the countries involved
in line with the aspirations of the Kenya’s Foreign Policy as Kenya strives to
entrench her leadership as an economic power within the region as well as
achieve a desirable competitiveness globally.
13. During H.E. the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, Kenya’s profile as a
destination was also visible in multilateral engagements – in the form of
summits, which has contributed to Kenya’s visibility and thought
leadership on a plethora of regional and international issues. In 2018
alone, Kenya took part in various high level engagements which generated
substantial value to the gross national output.
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a. Summits
NO. DATE HOST COUNTRY VALUE
1. 23rd Feb 2018
19th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, Speke Resort Munyonyo,
Uganda
The Summit gave emphasis to the development of domestic textile and leather sector which Kenya is now keen to develop under Big 4 agenda;
The Summit launched the 5th EAC Development Strategy 2016/17- 2020/21 which is key to our joint infrastructure development including the Taveta – Mwatate; digital regional East African Community Health initiative,
2. 21st March 2018
AU Summit, Kigali, Rwanda
Signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Protocol on free Movement of People thus opening up the continent for free trade, movement of persons as well as goods and services and hence a huge market for Kenyan products
Once ratified, it will provide Kenya
with access to a market of over 1 billion people and a total gross domestic product of 1.3 trillion U.S dollars.
3. 26th June 2018
14th Northern Corridor Summit, Nairobi
Reinforced the need for Uganda and South Sudan to hasten completion of the feasibility studies for the Northern, Western and Bihanga- Kasese – Mpondwe – Nimule – Juba section of the SGR. Completion of these projects will enhance value to the Kenyan section of the SGR.
4. 18 – 19 July 2018
20th COMESA Summit, Lusaka Zambia
The Kenyan Sugar sector was
granted a safeguard that will
expire in February, 2019. The
safeguard has been
instrumental in cushioning the
farmers from cheap sugar imports
from the region.
5. July 2018 AU Summit, Nouakchott,
Mauritania
Justice Ben Kioko, a Kenyan jurist was elected for a second six-year term, to serve as a judge of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights.
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Kenya profiled its thought leadership in the fight against corruption, women empowerment among other key areas.
6. 12 – 13 September,
AU Summit, Addis Ababa
The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. (R-ARCSS) was signed thus assuring Kenya’s security, which is critical for our development.
Beyond the continent – we have also had participation in significant global
bodies – particularly in the G7 – in 2016 and 2018.
7-11 June, 2018
G-7 Quebec Kenya was invited, alongside 10 other sea facing countries (Argentina, Bangladesh, Haiti, Jamaica, Marshall Islands, Norway, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Vietnam), to
discuss concrete actions to protect the health of marine environments and work together to ensure sustainable use of marine resources.
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b. Conferences
NO. EVENT COUNTRIES IN
PARTICIPATION
NO OF
PARTI
CIPAN
TS
VALUE
7. 15 – 18 Dec.
2015
10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi
Over 3,000
people
Cemented Kenya’s leadership role on the multilateral trading system.
Elevated Kenya’s profile as a conference and tourism hub
8. 17 – 22 July
2016
14th Ministerial United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Over
6,250
people
Cemented Kenya’s position as a global economic and trade player.
Through the conference,
Kenya was able to promote herself as an
investment and tourism destination
Kenya generated approx.
Kshs.3.1billion in revenue from the delegates attending the conference.
OXFAM committed to move their regional offices to the country.
9. 27 – 28 August
2016
Tokyo International Conference for
African Development V
Over
5,000
people
Reinforced Japan’s
support to Kenya that
stands at over 622 billion
Kenya shillings.
The government of Japan
donated four patrol boats
to support the capacity
for the Kenya Coast
Guard, to enhance
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security along the Kenya
coast.
Japan committed to
support the expansion of Mwea Irrigation Project and construction of Thiba
Dam, which is on-going and likely to be completed by 2020.
MOU and Master plan for Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zones (SEZs) was completed with the
support of Japan.
The OVOP (One Village One Product), an initiative
to promote local talent, which has been rolled out to counties at a cost of about Kshs. 100 million
On-going support of
Mombasa Port Development
construction of Dongo-
Kundu by-pass, at a cost of Ksh.12 billion,
Dualing of Ngong Road, phase at a cost of KS. 1.3 billion.
10. October
2016
High Level
Financing for
Development
3000 2 billion
11. Decem
ber
2016
UNEA III 3500 Major global consensus
and decisions on
environmental
management, including
the decision to host the
global sustainable blue
economy conference in
2018
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Kenya’s Overall Trade and investment Performance
14. Besides the political and diplomatic, we have also focused attention on
leveraging the high level visits to promote Kenya as an investment
destination of choice. Again as a way of illustration for 2018, we have had
a number of high level trade and investment delegations into and out of
Kenya.
HIGH LEVEL TRADE AND INVESTMENT VISITS
1. The French Business Confederation,
(MEDEF)
Nairobi, 5thMarch
5th -7th, 2018
The delegation, comprising 60 business executives signed an MOU on 12 projects which will attract more than US$10 billion in investment, create jobs and
transfer knowledge and technology. The 12 projects cover food security, transport and infrastructure, clean and affordable energy, health care, sustainable
urban settlement, digital revolution and the blue economy. MEDEF would also support TVET training
centers to boost Kenya’s pool of skilled workers.
2. About 60 major USA business executives led by the US Presidential
Advisory Council on Doing Business
in Africa. Nairobi June 27- 30, 2018
.Signed MOU between US and Kenya on the development and implementation of infrastructure and the big 4 priorities in Kenya.
.About 12 deals worth more than $100 million (Sh10
billion) were signed.
3. August Prime Minister May was accompanied by a large
business and investment delegation – that made commitments to invest in Kenya.
15. In the period under reference, Kenya exports have been on a gradual
increase. In 2017, Kenya exported 5.7 billion U.S dollars’ worth of products
around the globe, a 3.8% increase from 2013 and an almost 1% increase
from 2016 to 2017. From a continental perspective, almost 34% of Kenya's
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exports by value were to other African countries with about 28% to Europe
and over 10% to the Americas. Leading export earners were tea,
horticulture, articles of apparel and clothing accessories; and coffee,
collectively accounting for 54.6 percent of the total export merchandise.
Promoted Bilateral Economic Cooperation
16. To strengthen economic (trade and investment) cooperation with other
countries, the Ministry, the Ministry initiated new cooperation frameworks,
finalized agreements/MoUs and monitored existing agreements between
Kenya and its various economic partners to increase Kenyan exports,
promoted trade and investments, eliminate barriers to trade and enhance
Foreign Direct Investment levels.
17. Over the review period, the Ministry coordinated conclusion of twenty-one
(21) trade and investments agreements and MOUs. Kenya signed
agreements investment and bilateral trade agreements with the following
countries; Kuwait, Nigeria, China, Sri-Lanka, Angola, Ghana, Qatar,
Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Sudan. We also
coordinated negotiations of thirteen (13) bilateral trade agreements as
follows; with Mozambique, Botswana, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, Mozambique,
Russia, Japan, Singapore, Belgium and India.
18. In addition, the Ministry monitored implementation of eight (8) bilateral
trade/investment agreements through convened Joint Trade Committee
(JTC) sessions such as the Kenya-Sri Lanka JTC; the Kenya-South Africa
JTC; Joint technical experts meeting of the Kenya–Ethiopia Special Status
Agreement (SSA); the Kenya-India JTC and the Kenya-Zambia Joint
Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) as well as the Joint
Technical Committee Meetings in South Africa, South Korea and in the
Republic of Sudan.
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Promoted Kenya’s Private Sector engagements
19. During the period under review, the Ministry has developed close relations
with the private sector in economic and commercial ventures and business
match-making through the provision of assistance to participate in key
international trade fairs, expos and exhibitions and facilitated the Kenya
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to conclude MOUs
with various chambers of commerce. Some of these include; MOU with
China Chamber of Commerce (, MOU with Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,
and MOU with Qatar Chamber of Commerce.
20. Besides, the high-level engagements have culminated in forums such as
Kenya-UK Trade and investment Forum; Kenya-Germany Business Forum;
Kenya-Dubai Country focus briefing; Kenya-Czech Business Forum; Kenya-
Japan Trade and Investment forum; Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum;
Kenya-Uganda Business Forum; France-Kenya Business Forum and Israel-
Kenya Business Forum.
21. The Ministry also held county business outreach programmes by holding
workshops on trade and investment opportunities in seventeen (17)
counties as follows: in 2013/14 in Nairobi, Malindi, Eldoret; in 2014/15, in
Kajiado, Machakos, Mombasa, Kilifi, Embu, Meru, Nyeri, Nakuru, Uasin
Gishu, Kakamega and Kisumu and in 2015/16, in Baringo, Taita Taveta
and Kwale. Towards this, over 800 business people were sensitized on
business opportunities and how to access them.
22. Within the EAC, remarkable progress has been made, where a range of
instruments and measures to enhance close economic development and
strengthening of the EAC stability were finalized. Key among these
instruments were:
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i. Launching a single tourist visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. This
is expected to boost the region’s tourism and ease the financial strain
faced by tourists who have to pay multiple visa.
ii. Launching official of national IDs by citizens of Kenya, Rwanda and
Uganda to be used at the exit/entry points and to travel anywhere
within the three countries as members of the East African
Community.
iii. Establishing a one-stop border posts at major boundary points,
including Lunga Lunga and Taveta on the Tanzania/Kenya border in
order to support efficient transactions within the EAC by reducing
clearance times by up to 40%.
iv. Elimination of work permits’ fees which will facilitate operations and
ease of movement for workers from the region.
II: PEACE DIPLOMACY
23. High level engagement have also ensured that we retain our leadership in
terms of contributing to regional peace and stability.
Promoted Peace Diplomacy at Global and Continental Levels
24. Kenya’s peace diplomacy recognizes the central place of the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union Peace and Security
Council (AUPSC) as the guarantors of international and regional peace and
security respectively. Kenya has been addressing peace and security
challenges in the region within regional frameworks such as IGAD, ICGLR
and COMESA which are an integral part of the African Union peace and
security architecture. Under the IGAD framework, Kenya has made
significant contributions to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and
Somalia and South Sudan peace processes in particular.
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The Somalia Peace Process
25. H.E Uhuru Kenyatta has participated in all the Summits of Heads of State
and Government convened since 2013 specifically to review the status of
the Somali peace process and make critical decisions to push the process
forward. Some critical decisions adopted in these meetings include: the
adoption of the Somali Federal government’s document-National
Stabilization Plan and the need for all processes to include a framework for
sustainable and gradual return program for refugees; the Federal
Government of Somalia to convene and lead reconciliation conference with
the support of IGAD with a view to charting out a roadmap on the
establishment of interim administration and formation of permanent
regional administrations; IGAD Member States and the international
community to support the speedy establishment and strengthening of a
professional Somali national army, and the provision of humanitarian
services to communities in the liberated areas; reinforcing military
operations in Somalia, to effectively counter threats from Al Shabaab and
encouragement of Somalis to participate in the 2016 electoral process.
26. Furthermore, the Council of Minister’s meetings which usually precede the
Summits, and frequent bilateral engagements, the Government has
participated in many other international meetings on the Somalia
including the High-level Somalia talks in Copenhagen – Denmark in
October 2014, the third Ministerial High‐Level Partnership Forum (HLPF)
Istanbul-Turkey February 2016 and the High Level Meeting on Somalia in
New York in September, 2016, Addis Ababa (June 2018), Khartoum (July
2018)
27. Our diplomatic engagements on the Somali peace process has yielded
remarkable successes as demonstrated by the fact that:
i) After many years of political anarchy and acute insecurity, Somalia is
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steadily regaining its rightful place in the community of nations. For
the first time in close to three decades, Somalia on 13th September,
2016 hosted a high level meeting when the 28th Extra-Ordinary
Summit of IGAD took place in Mogadishu and H.E. President Uhuru
Kenyatta attended.
ii) Diplomatic missions, international businesses and organizations
have started operating from Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.
Kenya’s Embassy to Somalia also relocated to Mogadishu in July
2015.
iii) There has been massive relocation of Somali diaspora including
Somali refugees in Kenya to Somalia.
28. The stabilization of Somalia has as a direct consequence the stability of
Kenya and hence expansion of an enabling environment for the pursuit of
our development agenda.
South Sudan Peace Process
29. Kenya remains engagement in the search for peace in South Sudan. Our
engagement in the negotiation process, including bolstering the capacity of
IGAD mediation team led to the conclusion of the Revitalized ARCSS(R-
ARCSS) – and its signing by the protagonists last week. This has
forestalled a crisis of migration into Kenya, which is usually
accompanied by filtration of small arms and light weapons, and which
sometimes leads to eruption of conflicts even in refugee camps.
The Great Lakes Region
30. Kenya is a founding and active member of the International Conference on
the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). With its 12 Member States, its main aim is
to promote sustainable peace and development. In its ten years of existence
the ICGLR has offered a good platform for Kenya to engage in addressing
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conflicts in the great lakes region. The political crisis in Burundi, South
Sudan, and CAR as well as the continued existence and operation of
negative forces in eastern DRC has been of great concern to Kenya and
other member states. The following are some of the successes under the
ICGLR:-
To sustain peace and stability in the region, Kenya hosted the
signing of the declarations of commitments by the Government
of DRC and the M23 rebel group in Nairobi on 13th December
2013 at the conclusion of the Kampala dialogue. This marked
the end of a protracted conflict that threatened to draw in other
states and exacerbate the conflict situation in the region.
Kenya successfully lobbied for a Kenyan who took over as the
Executive Secretary of the ICGLR in June 2016. It is envisaged
that Kenya will leverage the considerable regional influence
wielded by the office and use it as a tool for Kenya’s diplomatic
influence within the
Terrorism and Violent Extremism
31. Kenya’s place as an anchor State within the Horn of Africa and Great
Lakes region and its proximity to Somalia has exposed the country to
attacks and persistent terrorism threats. The Ministry has in liaison with
relevant MDAs engaged in preventive diplomacy that essentially seeks to
disrupt and prevent the planning and execution of terrorist activities at
source.
In this regard, the Ministry:
Coordinated the country’s participation in regional and
international initiatives such as the IGAD Security Sector Program
whose Transnational Security Threats (TST) Initiative is designed
to complement and reinforce other national and multilateral
efforts to counter Al-Shabaab;
Has liaised with the relevant MDAs in ensuring that the
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Government has, in line with the Nations Security Council
resolution (UNSCR) 2023 (2011), made timely submissions to the
Sanctions Committee on specific national actions against Al
Shabaab; and,
Continued to call on the United Nations Security Council to review
AMISOM’s mandate to match with Al-Shabaab’s new methods of
warfare, provide the necessary force multipliers and enablers;
and, ensure predictable, adequate and sustainable funding to
enable it to effectively execute its mandate which includes the
degrading of Al Shabaab.
III: ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY PILLAR
32. Kenya is a champion for environmental sustainability, by the fact
that it hosts the United Nations Environmental Programme, the
only African country to host a full United Nations Office. This is
a leadership role that the Ministry has been undertaking
proudly, and has made notable achievements, some of which
include;
Strengthened and Upgraded the UNEP
33. Through high-level diplomacy, the Ministry successfully lobbied for the
upgrading of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) through creation
of the post of Under Secretary General. During the 67th Session of the UN
General Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
was upgraded and secured regular and predictable funding from the UN
Budget. The UN General Assembly on 14th March 2013 renamed the
UNEP Governing Council as the United Nations Environment Assembly of
UNEP. Consequently, the inter-sessional body of UNEP has a universal
character and its membership increased from the current 54 to the entire
membership of the United Nations of 193.
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Hosted the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) 34. Through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Kenya successfully hosted the 1st and 2nd United Nations Environment Assembly at the
UNEP Headquarters in 2014 and 2016. The overarching theme of the 2nd
Assembly was “Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015
Development Agenda, including Sustainable Consumption and Production.”
During the Assembly, Kenya played a key role both within the African
Group, and in the Group of 77 and China, in negotiating a number of
resolutions.
The 3rd UN-Habitat Conference
35. Habitat III, the 3rd United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable
Urban Development was held in October, 2016, the first global conference
after the Post 2015 Development Agenda. During the Conference, the UN-
Habitat, headquartered in Nairobi, was placed at the focal point to oversee
implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). During the 71st session of
UNGA, Kenya made a presentation on the assessment of UN-Habitat with
recommendations on how to improve its effectiveness, efficiency,
accountability and oversight. Currently, the Ministry is negotiating a draft
resolution at the Second Committee to give effect to the Quito outcome
document.
Co-chair in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
36. During the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2015, world leaders unanimously adopted the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Through the efforts of the Kenya Permanent
Mission to the UN, Kenya was chosen as a co-facilitator of the Open
Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kenya
therefore formed part of an Inter-Governmental Forum responsible for
designing the Global Development Goals to succeed the MDGs which
expired in September 2015. This enabled Kenya to occupy a critical
position in determining the destiny of the people worldwide since the SDGs
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United Nations Security Council Reforms within the African Union
37. Kenya’s position on United Nations Security Council Reforms is aligned to
the African Common Position. Kenya is a member of the Committee of Ten
(C-10) which is spearheading Africa’s position.
38. Africa is seeking for the expansion of the Security Council from the current
15 seats to 26 seats. The Ezulwini Consensus adopted in March 2005 and
called for at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non-
permanent seats on the Security Council for Africa. Once accepted, the
African Union would choose which African countries will get the seats.
Africa supports regional representation to ensure that the new seats to the
Security Council are representative of regional groupings, giving due
consideration to equitable geographical distribution. Africa is the only
region that is not represented in the Council in the permanent category.
Hosting of the Global Sustainable Blue Economy conference
39. Nothing can better demonstrate the global leadership we have attained
and continue to enjoy than the world wide support we are receiving for
hosting the first global blue economy conference in November 2018. This
conference offers an opportunity to advance shared priorities in supporting
and implementing the Sustainable Development Goal no 14 …" to conserve
and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine ecosystems for
sustainable development.” Among the anticipated outcomes from this a
range of business and investors that will come into Kenya to seize and
open up the opportunities in our maritime domain, but we also anticipate
to share both the priorities and strategies for engaging in a theatres that is
by definition transnational. Our economy will not be left from benefiting
as well. With an estimated 6,000 delegates, more than 60 side events and
exhibitions, we expect that the blue economy conference, like those hosted
before, will spur a range of diverse economic and investment interactions
23
and returns for Kenyan businesses, large and small.
IX: CONCLUSION
40. The ultimate objectives of our foreign policy, as enunciated through our
diplomacy at the highest level; are first, to protect our independence and
sovereignty, and second, to expand opportunities for our citizens to
overcome our economic limits. To optimize the opportunities and secure the
long term interests of Kenya, we leverage our diplomacy at various levels.
41. It is with this in mind that, since taking office in 2013, the administration
of President Uhuru Kenyatta has focused not only restoring our place
among the community of nations, - from a country where some countries
were defining us as one where they deal only by limited essential contacts,
to a most sought after global leader – whose premier diplomat – is invited to
the most prestigious global club the G7 in a row, to being invited and
hosting the 3 permanent members of the UNSC in a span of 10 days
between 27th August and 4th September 2018. This has translated into
spurring global interest in Kenya – investment and appetite for it in Kenya
is growing – claiming our rightful position as a gateway to East, Central
and Southern Africa.
54. As I conclude, I reiterate the availability and readiness of the Ministry to
share information and clarify any issue in our purview. In view of this
commitment, the Chief Administrative Secretary, the Principal Secretary,
the Political and Diplomatic Secretary and the office of Public Relations at
the Ministry are available to engage you on any of these matters.
I thank you for your kind attention.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NAIROBI
19th September 2018