THE government has published the country’s foreign policy and a national diaspora policy with the final drafts awaiting ratification by the Cabinet. The new foreign policy document focuses more on regional partnership, trade and peace with priority being the East Africa Community.
The policy says that EAC is Kenya’s most important foreign policy vehicle and her major trading and investment bloc. “Kenya continues to embrace bilateralism in pursuing its foreign policy objectives through bilateral trade, political and cultural agreements with other countries,” it says.
The policy states that the implementation of relationships with countries beyond Africa forms a critical component of Kenya’s foreign policy agenda, which lays emphasis on “emerging economies and economic zones.”
The Presidency, Cabinet, Parliament, county governments, offices of retired heads of state or government and other statesmen and the National Security Advisory Committee are listed as key players in implementing the foreign policy.
The policy seeks to increase capital flows to Kenya and the East African region and support export promotion and investment by Kenyan enterprises within the region and beyond.
The document lists “sanctity of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kenya” as the number one principle to guide the execution of Kenya’s foreign policy and the conduct of international relations.
The policy’s objectives include protecting Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and promoting subregional and regional integration and cooperation.
The diaspora policy aims at mainstreaming Kenyan in foreign countries into national development process in line with the aspirations and goals of Vision 2030.
The strategies in the policy include enhancing consular services, reducing high cost of money remittance and developing a framework for promoting diaspora participation.
Others are tapping into diaspora skills and expertise, and encouraging participation of Kenyans citizens abroad in the democratic processes in the country.
