PS Sing’Oei defends Ruto’s G7 invite, says Kenya is carrying Africa’s voice

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei has defended President William Ruto’s invitation to the upcoming G7 summit, dismissing claims that Kenya’s inclusion at the expense of South Africa reflects a divide-and-rule strategy by Western powers.

Sing’Oei argued that neither Kenya nor South Africa has an automatic right to represent Africa at the G7, saying participation is ultimately determined by the host nation.

The PS was responding to a question suggesting that South Africa had originally been expected to attend the summit before Kenya was invited instead.

“That is quite to the contrary. Number one, South Africa is not a member of the G7, neither are we,” Sing’Oei said during a television interview Wednesday night.

He noted that South Africa is a member of the G20 and not G7.

“That’s correct. It does not, as a matter of right, have to be the one representing Africa,” he said.

The interviewer had argued that replacing South Africa with Kenya amounted to “divide and rule.”

But Sing’Oei rejected the interpretation, saying the invitation by French President Emmanuel Macron reflected Kenya’s growing diplomatic role as a consensus builder on the continent.

“Within the conversations of the G7, in the wisdom of the host, it can choose any country,” he said.

“In this case, in the wisdom of the French, based on Kenya being a bridge builder, a consensus builder, a mobiliser of the continent, and given that Kenya actually does play a very critical role on the continent, it thought that in order to advance Africa’s voice, Kenya would play just as good a role, perhaps, as South Africa.”

Sing’Oei said Kenya’s participation followed discussions during the recent Africa-France summit, which sought to help African countries align positions on global economic and security issues ahead of engagements with the G7.

“And in doing that, that’s why this summit actually happened. It happened partly to help Africa cohere a position for the G7 conversations,” he said.

According to the PS, Kenya will attend the summit in a representative capacity, carrying positions agreed upon by African leaders on trade, economic cooperation, peace and security.

“Kenya will be going there really on a representative capacity, based on what we have heard this summit pronounce itself on with respect to peace and security issues, and with respect to economic and other trade matters,” he said.

Sing’Oei further noted that even South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had acknowledged that attendance at the G7 is not automatic for any African country.

“I think I did hear him mention that indeed it was not an issue. It was not a matter of right that South Africa was expected at the G7, but it is what it is,” he said.

The PS maintained that Kenya’s objective is not to compete with South Africa but to advance Africa’s collective interests on the global stage.

“In my view, I think Kenya, like South Africa would have done, is trying as much as possible to carry the voices, the legitimate interests and aspirations of the African continent,” he said.