The Cabinet has approved the revised Kenya Foreign Policy 2024, proposing institutional changes to strengthen the country’s diplomatic and security posture.
This marks a major shift in the country’s international relations and ensures that foreign engagements remain relevant and forward-looking in an ever evolving global landscape.
The Cabinet also approved the integration of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFDA) into the Security Sector Working Group under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. This will align the Ministry’s budget with its critical role in national security and international relations, marking a major step in enhancing its operations.
A statement from the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary indicated that in addition to adopting the policy, MFDA will now be moved to the security sector budget framework to strengthen national security and global engagements.
“The move to have MFDA included in the security sector budget framework will seek to strengthen the country’s global presence,” the statement read. The constitution provides that the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs sits in the National Security Council (NSC) of Kenya, a body that oversees the country’s national security.
It includes the President, Deputy President, Cabinet Secretaries for Defense and Internal Security, as well as the Attorney-General. Other members are the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service, and the Inspector-General of the National Police Service.
The statement also indicates that moving MFDA from Public Administration and International Relations to the Security Working Group will significantly help ensure embassies and employees holding key information are well-funded.
Concerns have previously been raised indicating that a country that does not have well-funded diplomat risks having its country’s security secrets out. The MFDA is currently coordinating critical, security related diplomatic interventions, for instance deployment of Kenya security personnel in Haiti and the Tumaini Peace Initiative and Mediation process on the South Sudan conflict.
It also manages other diplomatic and humanitarian interventions like evacuating Kenyans in distress abroad as was the case in Lebanon and Sudan.
The Ministry co-ordinates official presidential foreign travel and could arise from emerging situations and demands which may not have been factored in the budget.
“The revision process embraced a “Whole of Government and Society” approach, ensuring inclusivity and the integration of diverse perspectives. The Ministry conducted comprehensive consultations with a wide array of stakeholders,” the statement indicated.
