MIKHAIL NYAMWEYA: Kenya’s Foreign Policy needs clarity, not contradictions

President William Ruto’s recent foreign policy engagements, especially those captured in his address at the 2024 World Governments Summit, reveal a leader performing confidence on the world stage but navigating an increasingly multipolar and uncertain international system.

In the video, we see President Ruto speak fluently on Africa’s aspirations, calling for a reimagining of global financial systems and insisting on a more dignified presence for African countries.

But behind the lofty ideals lies a pattern of foreign policy behaviour that calls for both admiration and critique.

Ruto projects ambition. On the other hand, in foreign policy, ambition without structure often results in inconsistency. His pivot from traditional Western allies to a more assertive engagement with China, BRICS, and non-aligned forums reflects a desire to diversify Kenya’s diplomatic options.

Yet, when viewed alongside gaffes like the mismanaged Haiti mission, confusion surrounding the hosting of Sudan’s RSF, and diplomatic friction in the AU chairmanship bid, a picture emerges of a foreign policy still struggling to find equilibrium.

Kenya has always relied on a soft power anchored in moral credibility and quiet confidence. But what we’re witnessing now is a shift towards an assertive, and at times erratic foreign policy posture, where unilateralism risks crowding out deliberation.

The video rightly illustrates how Ruto’s verbal choices and strategic alignments can alienate regional partners and project Kenya as self-important rather than collaborative.

What we are witnessing is a leader whose instincts are transactional and performance-driven, and eager to signal Kenya’s readiness to lead but not always backed by institutional preparedness.

The speech, powerful as it was, represents what political scientist Karin Barber might call a “performance of authority” or a “performance of power” using public displays to construct legitimacy.

Yet true foreign policy coherence comes not just from rhetoric, unlike domestic politics, but from carefully structured strategy. In Kenya, what the moment calls for is not more bravado, but institutional grounding.

Presidential speeches within international/global contexts must be matched by consultative diplomacy, well-briefed foreign service professionals, and regionally coordinated engagements.

Kenya has the potential to lead, but not by appearing to outshine its neighbours or by flipping too quickly between allegiances. Therefore, foreign policy must be a long game that is steady, principled, and deeply rooted in regional trust.

Only then can the charisma on the podium translate into enduring influence at the negotiating table.

Mikhail Nyamweya is a foreign policy analyst and holds an Msc in African Studies from the University of Oxford.