Kenya’s envoy to China Willy Bett elected vice chair of new global mediation body

Kenya’s ambassador to China, Willy Bett, has been elected vice chairperson of the Governing Council of the newly established International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), a landmark intergovernmental body created to promote peaceful settlement of disputes through mediation.

The organisation was officially inaugurated Monday in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, marking the birth of the world’s newest platform for state-led dispute resolution. 

The event was graced by China's Foreign Affairs vice minister Hua Chunying and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee.

Ambassador Bett’s election places Kenya at the heart of a historic international initiative aimed at strengthening global peace and cooperation.

His role as one of the two vice chairpersons underscores Kenya’s growing diplomatic influence and its commitment to mediation as a tool for conflict prevention and resolution.

The IOMed, whose Constitutive Instrument was signed on May 30, 2025, by 38 countries, including Kenya, will serve as a neutral platform for resolving disputes involving states, investors, and commercial entities. 

It will provide a flexible, cost-effective, and efficient mode of mediation, an alternative to litigation and arbitration, while also offering capacity-building support to member states.

During the inaugural session, Prof. Teresa Cheng, a senior counsel, Chartered Engineer, and renowned arbitrator who previously served as Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, was appointed as the first Secretary General of IOMed. 

Sun Jin was named Deputy Secretary General.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, in a statement, lauded the development as a major milestone for Kenya’s diplomacy. 

He said Kenya’s membership aligns with its long-standing leadership in mediation and peace-building across Africa and beyond.

“The IOMed treaty dovetails with Kenya’s proposal for the establishment of the Convention for the Support, Protection and Acceleration of Conflict Prevention and Resolution, which seeks to address intra-state conflicts,” said Sing’oei.

Kenya’s participation in IOMed is seen as a natural extension of its active role in international peace efforts, from regional mediation in the Horn of Africa to championing global frameworks for dialogue and reconciliation.

Bett’s election not only enhances Kenya’s global profile.

It also positions the country as a key player in shaping the emerging architecture of international mediation and peaceful dispute resolution.

Kenya has continued to play a key role stabilising and leading role in maintaining peace, security, and stability within the East African and Horn of Africa region.

It provides a stable base for diplomacy and humanitarian operations in an otherwise volatile neighborhood.

Its defence forces (KDF) are among the most professional and active peacekeepers in Africa.