Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says Kenya is positioning itself as a major diplomatic and logistical hub in Africa through a new approach to foreign affairs and international cooperation.
Speaking during a quick-fire question and answer, Mudavadi said that for the first time in Kenya’s history, Parliament has approved the country’s foreign policy through Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, marking a milestone in strengthening Kenya’s global engagement.
“For the first time in our history, Kenya’s foreign policy has been approved by Parliament,” he said.
“The whole idea of Foreign Policy Mashinani is to ensure that matters around foreign policy are not the preserve of the elite. We want all Kenyans to have a good understanding of what it means and how it affects them,” he continued.
Mudavadi highlighted Nairobi’s unique role as the only United Nations hub in the Global South, hosting both UNEP and UN-Habitat, and said plans are underway to expand Kenya’s infrastructure to support international operations.
“The United Nations also wants to have a logistics and humanitarian hub in the Global South. We are already looking at establishing one around JKUAT and another in Mombasa to connect through the railway all the way to Naivasha,” he explained.
He added that Nairobi also serves as the regional hub for the World Bank, meaning many regional operations no longer need to be handled from Washington, D.C.
“When you look at all these and our plans to expand infrastructure, such as building more expressways, we are laying a strong foundation for peace, security, and investment,” he said.
On supporting Kenyans living and working abroad, Mudavadi noted that the government has, for the first time, established a State Department for Diaspora Affairs, headed by Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu.
“This is a game-changer. The government has dedicated a full State Department to handle diaspora issues. We have expanded consular services and created diaspora platforms,” he said.
“We have also conducted serious interventions — for instance, evacuating almost 1,000 Kenyans from Lebanon in the middle of war — and signed bilateral labour agreements to ensure structured engagement for Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.”
Asked about balancing relationships between global powers, Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s neutral and strategic foreign policy, saying the country’s diplomacy will always be guided by national interest.
“Kenya has always been strategically neutral. We maintain good relationships with all countries globally, and our focus remains on national interest,” he stated.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also underscored the vital role of the diaspora community in driving Kenya’s economy and shaping its international standing.
“Kenyans abroad are now remitting close to one trillion shillings annually,” he said.
“It’s a constituency that can never be ignored. They are supporting families, investing back home, and acting as our unofficial diplomats through patriotism.”
He further noted that the IEBC continues to expand its reach to allow more Kenyans abroad to participate in democratic processes, adding that their contribution in areas like technology, agriculture, and security helps promote Kenya’s global image.
Mudavadi concluded by saying that Kenya’s evolving foreign policy and infrastructure agenda will strengthen its status as a center for diplomacy, peace, and sustainable development in Africa.
