Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could be in line to oversee the country’s top foreign policy portfolio, according to a memo seen by Kurunzi. The move would mark a significant shift in the way the country’s diplomacy is managed.
Mr Gachagua, who is currently in charge of domestic affairs, would take on the new role in meetings with foreign envoys, the memo said, the move would put him in charge of a key area of government as Kenya seeks to boost its foreign policies.
As a result of the new shift, Rigathi Gachagua will be overseeing Foreign Policy. This change was made in order to improve the process of communication between the different agencies involved. The embassies have been instructed to work directly with the specified government agencies, while copying the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in their correspondences.
Kurunzi understands that the change is a result of numerous complaints from diplomats in Nairobi about the bureaucratic delays on approving meetings by the ministry now headed by Dr Alfred Mutua. The diplomats complained that the delays are causing problems with scheduling and planning. Kurunzi hopes that the change will help to improve the situation.
Deputy President Gachagua will handle meetings where embassies want to engage more than one government department at once, the note said. This is convenient for embassies, as they can coordinate with multiple departments simultaneously without having to schedule separate meetings. It also enables the government to provide a more streamlined and efficient service to embassies.
According to a letter shared with all foreign missions accredited to Nairobi, requests for meetings of a cross-cutting nature and those that involve more than one ministry should be made through the office of the deputy president for coordination purposes. This is to ensure that all relevant parties are involved and that the meeting can be properly organised. Making such requests directly to individual ministries may result in delays or confusion.
The Vienna Convention
Kenya’s age-old tradition of handling foreign policy affairs through the ministry in charge of foreign affairs is something which is also the presumption in the Vienna Convention of 1961 to which Kenya is signatory. This note appends that tradition and confirms Kenya’s commitment to the agreement.
The Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sets out the rules for how member states can deal with foreign affairs. The Convention provides that member states may delegate the conduct of their foreign relations to a specific government agency. This agency is responsible for dealing with other member states and international organisations on behalf of the member state. The agency may also be responsible for implementing the member state’s foreign policy.
The diplomatic relations between two states are regulated by a treaty which provides for the privileges and immunities of diplomatic missions. Article 41 of the treaty states that all official business entrusted to a diplomatic mission by the sending state shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving state. This provision ensures that the diplomatic mission is able to carry out its functions in an efficient and respectful manner.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has in the past protested to foreign governments and embassies that have tried to engage other government departments without prior approval from the ministry. On Wednesday, the ministry issued a memo stating that this move was to cut down on the red tape that is currently being blamed on the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. The ministry has asked that all future engagements with other government departments be run through the ministry so that they can be properly vetted and approved.
The memorandum goes on to say that it has been agreed, in the interest of efficiency, that the missions should be able to communicate directly with ministries, departments, and agencies of the government of Kenya, without going through the ministry of foreign and diaspora affairs. However, the ministry should still be kept apprised of the correspondence by receiving a copy of it.
In the interest of coordination, the foregoing is subject to requirement by the missions to provide a report to the ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs on the held deliberation and decision undertaken within three days of the meeting. This will ensure that all interested parties are aware of the decisions made and can take appropriate action.
A source within the ministry told Kurunzi that the Cabinet secretary and other officials will no longer have any influence on decisions or meetings that are scheduled from now on. This change comes as a result of a memo that was circulated within the ministry, which does not explicitly say whether or not the ministry can object to meetings. However, the source noted that it is now clear that officials within the ministry will not be able to block or otherwise interfere with any meetings that are scheduled.
Supports move
Delays in issuing MoUs and other diplomatic documents have been a source of frustration for many in the Kenyan government, including Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Francis Kimemia Mutua. In an effort to speed up the process and reduce delays, Dr. Mutua has issued a notice calling for more expeditious Chap Chap interactions.
In his notice, Dr. Mutua cites the need to move away from traditional, elitist bureaucracy as a primary reason for the proposed changes. He also notes that the diplomatic community has voiced their support for more efficient interactions. Under the new system, it is hoped that MoUs and other documents can be issued more quickly and with fewer delays.
The note verbale came as Dr Mutua seeks to learn new ropes in a foreign policy arena in which he had had no past experience in. Dr Mutua is looking to expand his knowledge in this field so that he can be more effective in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs. This is an important step for him to take, as he seeks to develop his skills and abilities in an area that is crucial to the running of the country.
Last week, two diplomats revealed to Kurunzi that they had struggled to secure appointments with senior government officials. The diplomats said that the ministry is still rebuilding, with staff unsure of their respective roles in the new dispensation.
Kurunzi was also told by sources within the ministry that there is confusion over the chain of command, as the ministry undergoes a restructuring process.
These challenges come as the ministry is trying to navigate a number of complex issues, including the ongoing border dispute with Ethiopia, the closure of the border with Somalia, and the recent violence in South Sudan.
