"Leveraging our National Interests through

Diplomacy at the Highest Level"

3RD QUARTERLY PRESS BRIEFING

AMB. MONICA JUMA, DPHIL, CBS

CABINET SECRETARY

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VENUE:

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, NAIROBI

DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2018

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Distinguished Members of the Fourth Estate

Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Good afternoon

1. I am delighted to welcome you to the 3rd Press Briefing of the Cabinet

Secretary for Foreign Affairs on Kenya's highest level engagements. I thank each

one of you for honouring our invitation.

2. Over time, a public debate is emerging on the place of Kenya internationally

and the value of Kenya's high-level engagements. In the last 20 days, we have

had high level engagements with three world leaders and permanent members of

the United Nations Security Council, namely USA, United Kingdom and China. In

addition, we have also engaged at the regional level, with an IGAD summit,

ministerial sessions on the AU reform process as well as on our negotiations on

the African Caribbean and Pacific with the AU, referred to as Post Cotonou

negotiations. We shall be departing for the United Nations General Assembly –

which commences next week – which will among other things explore the status

of the current multilateralism and seek to strengthen a rule-based international

system.

3. It is not questionable that Kenya, like all nations, must employ strategic

tools, especially high-level diplomacy, to take advantage of opportunities in a

currently complex theatre as well as anticipate and manage a complex spectrum

of risks, threats and potential challenges that can impact negatively on our

stability and process towards attaining our prosperity. In the current rapidly

changing global environment, peace and security, trade, foreign direct investment

(FDI), environmental sustainability are the cornerstones of our diplomacy.

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4. The sharp end of our diplomacy is hewn to two key tenets: one, the realities

that a medium-sized country must contend with, and two, the importance of

maintaining Kenya's relevance in the world. It is useful to restate, at this

juncture, that at 55 years, Kenya's geostrategic certainties continue to be shaped

by three factors: one, our economic reliance on the innovativeness of our human

capital; two, our diversity and three, an evolving geo-political situation that is

steeped in ruthless competition.

5. It is in this context that we have engaged high-level diplomacy as an

invaluable force multiplier in accelerating the momentum for growing the value of

engagements at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

6. High-level engagements, particularly in the form of Presidential trips help

to project Kenya's image globally, consolidate Kenya's relevance internationally,

shape and strengthen our regional and international footprint as well as

international legitimacy and leadership; build trust and credibility for the

leadership of the country, and generate new trade and investment opportunities.

Furthermore, the visits put a spotlight on Kenya on many dimensions including

tourism, culture, and other service sectors.

7. From a cooperative point of view, high level visits enable Kenya to engage

and work closely with others countries in the advancement of our national

interests.

8. In my briefing today, I will speak to the fundamentals and strategic

imperatives that inform the anchoring of our foreign policy on diplomacy at the

highest level through H.E the President's engagements and his delegated

mandate to the Deputy President, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, other

Cabinet Secretaries and high-level officials. I will sketch ways through which

Kenya’s foreign engagements have nurtured and built on existing partnership

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networks to pursue peace, security, regional integration and prosperity of our

country from 2013 to date.

9. Looking back to the last six years, I can confidently confirm that the high-

level diplomacy paradigm has yielded manifold outcomes in three broad

spheres:-

a) Kenya has established solid and productive relationships across the world: in

Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe, Asia and the other parts of the world;

b) Nairobi has become one of the most visited capitals for foreign heads of state

and heads of government and preferred destination for international meetings

and conferences, and

c) Most fundamentally, interest and investment in our country has grown a

thousand fold – translating into economic growth.

10. So far, we had had organized 49 outbound presidential visits. The common

thread is the drive to engage in ways that support our economic

transformation agenda generally and more recently focused in the Big 4

agenda, social development and regional peace and security. To illustrate

the value of these visits, may I focus attention on visits undertaken in 2018.

11. We have had five (5) high level outbound engagements, with lots of value

from each. These are:

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NO DATE COUNTR

Y/EVENT

VALUE

1. 14 – 17 march 2018

State visit to Cuba

i. 100 Cuban medical specialists deployed to

Kenya’s Public Health facilities ii. 50 Kenyan medical personnel to receive post

postgraduate training in Cuba iii. Signing of a collaboration pact between Kenya

and Labiopharm, a state corporation in Cuba, for

Malaria Vector control, iv. Signing of a collaboration pact between Kenya

and Bio-Cuba Farma, another State Corporation in Cuba for manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals in Kenya

v. Agreement reached for collaboration in the areas of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries sectors among others.

2. 29 March – 2nd April

2018

State visit to Mozambiq

ue

Agreed to: i. Review of the Joint Commission for Cooperation

(JCC); ii. Waive Visa requirements for citizens visiting

either country to promote trade and people to people contacts;

iii. Cooperate in Energy Sector, in which case

Kenya will access gas and coal from Mozambique at cheaper rates;

iv. Review the BASA t increase frequencies of

Kenya Airways to Maputo. Currently Kenya

airways flies 5 times weekly among others

3. 16-21 April

2018

Common wealth Heads of Governme

nt Meeting

(CHOGM) London

i. Diplomacy Joined at least 5,000 participants from

government, business, and civil society. (CHOGM) in

a discussion that focused on promoting

prosperity, safety, sustainability and fairness with the

theme: ‘Towards a common future’. Also

delivered an address at Chatham House,

highlighting Kenya's efforts in achieving inclusive

economic growth.

ii. Trade & Investment: Visited the London Stock

Exchange (LSE) for a meeting with investors where he

promoted Kenya as an investment destination

iii. Security and regional development

4. 5 – 12 June 2018

Participati on in the Outreach Session of

the G7 Leaders’

Summit in Montreal Canada

Besides strengthening Kenya’s relationship with the G7 Countries, H.E. The President was able to:

i. Secure Kshs. 200 million towards the hosting of

the Blue Economy conference. ii. Kenya secured a commitment from Master Card

Foundation to increase its support of over 100 million dollars to cover Girls Education in Kenya.

iii. Solidified President's role as an emerging global leader. G-7 leaders lauded Kenya's leadership in hosting the upcoming blue economy conference. They pledged to support

the conference which they recognized as the next strategic step in advancing the Charlevoix (Quebec) agenda. Canada confirmed

its readiness to co-host the conference with Kenya. Kenya leadership was also recognized as one of about 40 countries worldwide that have

banned the use of single use plastics.

iv. Consolidated the President's role as the de

facto leader on Regional Integration in Africa. (a) The leaders of Kenya, Senegal and South Africa agreed to bolster trade and operationalize CFTA and harness the huge unexploited opportunities for bilateral trade. (b) Kenya and South Africa to co-host an African led investment conference in Nairobi in late

2018 to discuss strategies for increasing intra- Africa trade, incentives to increase it and smart partnerships to increase competitiveness of

African goods and services.

v. Trade and investment. Canadian investors

and business leaders, keen to expand their footprint in Kenya and undaunted by the fact that scheduling constraints made it impossible for the

President to address their gathering, committed to meet him in New York in September

during the UNGA meeting. 10 multinational Canadian companies are scheduled to come to New York for a meeting with

the President on September 27, 2018.

vi. Development program: (a) Kenya's participation in the G-7 meeting gives us a first- mover advantage to harness additional resources that will become available to protect oceans and seas, (b) Mastercard Foundation agreed to fund an innovative TVET program to make it more responsive to the needs of the labor market

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- mover advantage to harness additional resources that will become available to protect

oceans and seas, (b) Mastercard Foundation agreed to fund an innovative TVET program to make it more responsive to the needs of the

labor market and a viable and attractive option for the youth.

Diplomatic

i. UN reaffirmed its decision to enlarge its imprint

in Kenya including through the service center.

ii. UN Secretary General sought the President's

counsel on Somalia and South Sudan

iii. Several heads of state, including Canada,

Jamaica, South Africa, Senegal, and Rwanda,

accepted the President's invitation to attend the

blue economy conference

iv. PM Trudeau invited H.E. to Montreal for the

Women Deliver" conference in Vancouver on June 3-

6, 2019 - asked Kenya to convene the African women

input into Vancouver.

v. South Africa reaffirmed its invitation for a state

visit before end of 2018 and Senegal extended

invitation to H.E. for a visit in January 2019,

Canada and Kenya, both interested parties, to

provide reciprocal support in the bid for a seat in UN

Security Council in 2021.

5 24 – 27 August 2018

Official Visit to the USA

i. Two business deals worth US $ 237 million

were signed between the Overseas Private

Investment Corporation(OPIC) and two private

firms;

US $ 232 million for financing the construction and operation of Kipeto Wind

Farm that will deliver 100 MW grid connected wind power plant in Kajiado County.

A US $ 5 million commitment was made towards expansion of Twiga Food

distribution network leading to the improvement of food security and wages for agricultural workers.

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ii. The US government granted Jomo Kenyatta

International Airport (JKIA), the Last Point of

Departure (LPD) status allowing it to facilitate

direct flights between Kenya and the US. The

inaugural flight between Nairobi and New York, ii. Bechtel Corporation committed to build the 473

Km modern superhighway worth US $ 3.5 billion from Nairobi to Mombasa on a Public Private Partnership arrangement. Further Discussion is underway.

iv. Secured support for KDF to fight terror, piracy and other transnational crimes.

v. Establishment of Kenya-US Trade and

Investment working group to optimize AGOA opportunities for the next 7 years

vi. MOU on Infrastructure signed to facilitate

participation of USA private sector in infrastructural development in Kenya in line with the Big 4 Agenda;

6. 31 Aug- 5 Sep 2018

FOCAC Summit,

Beijing, China

i. Secured Public Private Partnership for two

infrastructural projects:

A 30 km expressway from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Westlands

The Development of Dongo Kundu Special

Economic Zones on Mombasa ii. Kenya to benefit from US$ 60billion announced

by H.E. Xi Jinping to support development in Africa,

iii. Kenya to also benefit from the more than US$

10 billion Chinese Private Sector investment in

Africa, among others.

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12. Besides the specifics outlined above, the engagements offered the

opportunities for closer bilateral collaboration with the countries involved

in line with the aspirations of the Kenya’s Foreign Policy as Kenya strives to

entrench her leadership as an economic power within the region as well as

achieve a desirable competitiveness globally.

13. During H.E. the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, Kenya’s profile as a

destination was also visible in multilateral engagements – in the form of

summits, which has contributed to Kenya’s visibility and thought

leadership on a plethora of regional and international issues. In 2018

alone, Kenya took part in various high level engagements which generated

substantial value to the gross national output.

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a. Summits

NO. DATE HOST COUNTRY VALUE

1. 23rd Feb 2018

19th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, Speke Resort Munyonyo,

Uganda

The Summit gave emphasis to the development of domestic textile and leather sector which Kenya is now keen to develop under Big 4 agenda;

The Summit launched the 5th EAC Development Strategy 2016/17- 2020/21 which is key to our joint infrastructure development including the Taveta – Mwatate; digital regional East African Community Health initiative,

2. 21st March 2018

AU Summit, Kigali, Rwanda

Signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Protocol on free Movement of People thus opening up the continent for free trade, movement of persons as well as goods and services and hence a huge market for Kenyan products

Once ratified, it will provide Kenya

with access to a market of over 1 billion people and a total gross domestic product of 1.3 trillion U.S dollars.

3. 26th June 2018

14th Northern Corridor Summit, Nairobi

Reinforced the need for Uganda and South Sudan to hasten completion of the feasibility studies for the Northern, Western and Bihanga- Kasese – Mpondwe – Nimule – Juba section of the SGR. Completion of these projects will enhance value to the Kenyan section of the SGR.

4. 18 – 19 July 2018

20th COMESA Summit, Lusaka Zambia

The Kenyan Sugar sector was

granted a safeguard that will

expire in February, 2019. The

safeguard has been

instrumental in cushioning the

farmers from cheap sugar imports

from the region.

5. July 2018 AU Summit, Nouakchott,

Mauritania

Justice Ben Kioko, a Kenyan jurist was elected for a second six-year term, to serve as a judge of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights.

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Kenya profiled its thought leadership in the fight against corruption, women empowerment among other key areas.

6. 12 – 13 September,

AU Summit, Addis Ababa

The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. (R-ARCSS) was signed thus assuring Kenya’s security, which is critical for our development.

Beyond the continent – we have also had participation in significant global

bodies – particularly in the G7 – in 2016 and 2018.

7-11 June, 2018

G-7 Quebec Kenya was invited, alongside 10 other sea facing countries (Argentina, Bangladesh, Haiti, Jamaica, Marshall Islands, Norway, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Vietnam), to

discuss concrete actions to protect the health of marine environments and work together to ensure sustainable use of marine resources.

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b. Conferences

NO. EVENT COUNTRIES IN

PARTICIPATION

NO OF

PARTI

CIPAN

TS

VALUE

7. 15 – 18 Dec.

2015

10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi

Over 3,000

people

Cemented Kenya’s leadership role on the multilateral trading system.

Elevated Kenya’s profile as a conference and tourism hub

8. 17 – 22 July

2016

14th Ministerial United Nations Conference on

Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Over

6,250

people

Cemented Kenya’s position as a global economic and trade player.

Through the conference,

Kenya was able to promote herself as an

investment and tourism destination

Kenya generated approx.

Kshs.3.1billion in revenue from the delegates attending the conference.

OXFAM committed to move their regional offices to the country.

9. 27 – 28 August

2016

Tokyo International Conference for

African Development V

Over

5,000

people

Reinforced Japan’s

support to Kenya that

stands at over 622 billion

Kenya shillings.

The government of Japan

donated four patrol boats

to support the capacity

for the Kenya Coast

Guard, to enhance

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security along the Kenya

coast.

Japan committed to

support the expansion of Mwea Irrigation Project and construction of Thiba

Dam, which is on-going and likely to be completed by 2020.

MOU and Master plan for Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zones (SEZs) was completed with the

support of Japan.

The OVOP (One Village One Product), an initiative

to promote local talent, which has been rolled out to counties at a cost of about Kshs. 100 million

On-going support of

Mombasa Port Development

construction of Dongo-

Kundu by-pass, at a cost of Ksh.12 billion,

Dualing of Ngong Road, phase at a cost of KS. 1.3 billion.

10. October

2016

High Level

Financing for

Development

3000 2 billion

11. Decem

ber

2016

UNEA III 3500 Major global consensus

and decisions on

environmental

management, including

the decision to host the

global sustainable blue

economy conference in

2018

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Kenya’s Overall Trade and investment Performance

14. Besides the political and diplomatic, we have also focused attention on

leveraging the high level visits to promote Kenya as an investment

destination of choice. Again as a way of illustration for 2018, we have had

a number of high level trade and investment delegations into and out of

Kenya.

HIGH LEVEL TRADE AND INVESTMENT VISITS

1. The French Business Confederation,

(MEDEF)

Nairobi, 5thMarch

5th -7th, 2018

The delegation, comprising 60 business executives signed an MOU on 12 projects which will attract more than US$10 billion in investment, create jobs and

transfer knowledge and technology. The 12 projects cover food security, transport and infrastructure, clean and affordable energy, health care, sustainable

urban settlement, digital revolution and the blue economy. MEDEF would also support TVET training

centers to boost Kenya’s pool of skilled workers.

2. About 60 major USA business executives led by the US Presidential

Advisory Council on Doing Business

in Africa. Nairobi June 27- 30, 2018

.Signed MOU between US and Kenya on the development and implementation of infrastructure and the big 4 priorities in Kenya.

.About 12 deals worth more than $100 million (Sh10

billion) were signed.

3. August Prime Minister May was accompanied by a large

business and investment delegation – that made commitments to invest in Kenya.

15. In the period under reference, Kenya exports have been on a gradual

increase. In 2017, Kenya exported 5.7 billion U.S dollars’ worth of products

around the globe, a 3.8% increase from 2013 and an almost 1% increase

from 2016 to 2017. From a continental perspective, almost 34% of Kenya's

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exports by value were to other African countries with about 28% to Europe

and over 10% to the Americas. Leading export earners were tea,

horticulture, articles of apparel and clothing accessories; and coffee,

collectively accounting for 54.6 percent of the total export merchandise.

Promoted Bilateral Economic Cooperation

16. To strengthen economic (trade and investment) cooperation with other

countries, the Ministry, the Ministry initiated new cooperation frameworks,

finalized agreements/MoUs and monitored existing agreements between

Kenya and its various economic partners to increase Kenyan exports,

promoted trade and investments, eliminate barriers to trade and enhance

Foreign Direct Investment levels.

17. Over the review period, the Ministry coordinated conclusion of twenty-one

(21) trade and investments agreements and MOUs. Kenya signed

agreements investment and bilateral trade agreements with the following

countries; Kuwait, Nigeria, China, Sri-Lanka, Angola, Ghana, Qatar,

Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Sudan. We also

coordinated negotiations of thirteen (13) bilateral trade agreements as

follows; with Mozambique, Botswana, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, Mozambique,

Russia, Japan, Singapore, Belgium and India.

18. In addition, the Ministry monitored implementation of eight (8) bilateral

trade/investment agreements through convened Joint Trade Committee

(JTC) sessions such as the Kenya-Sri Lanka JTC; the Kenya-South Africa

JTC; Joint technical experts meeting of the Kenya–Ethiopia Special Status

Agreement (SSA); the Kenya-India JTC and the Kenya-Zambia Joint

Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) as well as the Joint

Technical Committee Meetings in South Africa, South Korea and in the

Republic of Sudan.

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Promoted Kenya’s Private Sector engagements

19. During the period under review, the Ministry has developed close relations

with the private sector in economic and commercial ventures and business

match-making through the provision of assistance to participate in key

international trade fairs, expos and exhibitions and facilitated the Kenya

National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to conclude MOUs

with various chambers of commerce. Some of these include; MOU with

China Chamber of Commerce (, MOU with Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,

and MOU with Qatar Chamber of Commerce.

20. Besides, the high-level engagements have culminated in forums such as

Kenya-UK Trade and investment Forum; Kenya-Germany Business Forum;

Kenya-Dubai Country focus briefing; Kenya-Czech Business Forum; Kenya-

Japan Trade and Investment forum; Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum;

Kenya-Uganda Business Forum; France-Kenya Business Forum and Israel-

Kenya Business Forum.

21. The Ministry also held county business outreach programmes by holding

workshops on trade and investment opportunities in seventeen (17)

counties as follows: in 2013/14 in Nairobi, Malindi, Eldoret; in 2014/15, in

Kajiado, Machakos, Mombasa, Kilifi, Embu, Meru, Nyeri, Nakuru, Uasin

Gishu, Kakamega and Kisumu and in 2015/16, in Baringo, Taita Taveta

and Kwale. Towards this, over 800 business people were sensitized on

business opportunities and how to access them.

22. Within the EAC, remarkable progress has been made, where a range of

instruments and measures to enhance close economic development and

strengthening of the EAC stability were finalized. Key among these

instruments were:

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i. Launching a single tourist visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. This

is expected to boost the region’s tourism and ease the financial strain

faced by tourists who have to pay multiple visa.

ii. Launching official of national IDs by citizens of Kenya, Rwanda and

Uganda to be used at the exit/entry points and to travel anywhere

within the three countries as members of the East African

Community.

iii. Establishing a one-stop border posts at major boundary points,

including Lunga Lunga and Taveta on the Tanzania/Kenya border in

order to support efficient transactions within the EAC by reducing

clearance times by up to 40%.

iv. Elimination of work permits’ fees which will facilitate operations and

ease of movement for workers from the region.

II: PEACE DIPLOMACY

23. High level engagement have also ensured that we retain our leadership in

terms of contributing to regional peace and stability.

Promoted Peace Diplomacy at Global and Continental Levels

24. Kenya’s peace diplomacy recognizes the central place of the United Nations

Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union Peace and Security

Council (AUPSC) as the guarantors of international and regional peace and

security respectively. Kenya has been addressing peace and security

challenges in the region within regional frameworks such as IGAD, ICGLR

and COMESA which are an integral part of the African Union peace and

security architecture. Under the IGAD framework, Kenya has made

significant contributions to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and

Somalia and South Sudan peace processes in particular.

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The Somalia Peace Process

25. H.E Uhuru Kenyatta has participated in all the Summits of Heads of State

and Government convened since 2013 specifically to review the status of

the Somali peace process and make critical decisions to push the process

forward. Some critical decisions adopted in these meetings include: the

adoption of the Somali Federal government’s document-National

Stabilization Plan and the need for all processes to include a framework for

sustainable and gradual return program for refugees; the Federal

Government of Somalia to convene and lead reconciliation conference with

the support of IGAD with a view to charting out a roadmap on the

establishment of interim administration and formation of permanent

regional administrations; IGAD Member States and the international

community to support the speedy establishment and strengthening of a

professional Somali national army, and the provision of humanitarian

services to communities in the liberated areas; reinforcing military

operations in Somalia, to effectively counter threats from Al Shabaab and

encouragement of Somalis to participate in the 2016 electoral process.

26. Furthermore, the Council of Minister’s meetings which usually precede the

Summits, and frequent bilateral engagements, the Government has

participated in many other international meetings on the Somalia

including the High-level Somalia talks in Copenhagen – Denmark in

October 2014, the third Ministerial High‐Level Partnership Forum (HLPF)

Istanbul-Turkey February 2016 and the High Level Meeting on Somalia in

New York in September, 2016, Addis Ababa (June 2018), Khartoum (July

2018)

27. Our diplomatic engagements on the Somali peace process has yielded

remarkable successes as demonstrated by the fact that:

i) After many years of political anarchy and acute insecurity, Somalia is

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steadily regaining its rightful place in the community of nations. For

the first time in close to three decades, Somalia on 13th September,

2016 hosted a high level meeting when the 28th Extra-Ordinary

Summit of IGAD took place in Mogadishu and H.E. President Uhuru

Kenyatta attended.

ii) Diplomatic missions, international businesses and organizations

have started operating from Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.

Kenya’s Embassy to Somalia also relocated to Mogadishu in July

2015.

iii) There has been massive relocation of Somali diaspora including

Somali refugees in Kenya to Somalia.

28. The stabilization of Somalia has as a direct consequence the stability of

Kenya and hence expansion of an enabling environment for the pursuit of

our development agenda.

South Sudan Peace Process

29. Kenya remains engagement in the search for peace in South Sudan. Our

engagement in the negotiation process, including bolstering the capacity of

IGAD mediation team led to the conclusion of the Revitalized ARCSS(R-

ARCSS) – and its signing by the protagonists last week. This has

forestalled a crisis of migration into Kenya, which is usually

accompanied by filtration of small arms and light weapons, and which

sometimes leads to eruption of conflicts even in refugee camps.

The Great Lakes Region

30. Kenya is a founding and active member of the International Conference on

the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). With its 12 Member States, its main aim is

to promote sustainable peace and development. In its ten years of existence

the ICGLR has offered a good platform for Kenya to engage in addressing

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conflicts in the great lakes region. The political crisis in Burundi, South

Sudan, and CAR as well as the continued existence and operation of

negative forces in eastern DRC has been of great concern to Kenya and

other member states. The following are some of the successes under the

ICGLR:-

To sustain peace and stability in the region, Kenya hosted the

signing of the declarations of commitments by the Government

of DRC and the M23 rebel group in Nairobi on 13th December

2013 at the conclusion of the Kampala dialogue. This marked

the end of a protracted conflict that threatened to draw in other

states and exacerbate the conflict situation in the region.

Kenya successfully lobbied for a Kenyan who took over as the

Executive Secretary of the ICGLR in June 2016. It is envisaged

that Kenya will leverage the considerable regional influence

wielded by the office and use it as a tool for Kenya’s diplomatic

influence within the

Terrorism and Violent Extremism

31. Kenya’s place as an anchor State within the Horn of Africa and Great

Lakes region and its proximity to Somalia has exposed the country to

attacks and persistent terrorism threats. The Ministry has in liaison with

relevant MDAs engaged in preventive diplomacy that essentially seeks to

disrupt and prevent the planning and execution of terrorist activities at

source.

In this regard, the Ministry:

Coordinated the country’s participation in regional and

international initiatives such as the IGAD Security Sector Program

whose Transnational Security Threats (TST) Initiative is designed

to complement and reinforce other national and multilateral

efforts to counter Al-Shabaab;

Has liaised with the relevant MDAs in ensuring that the

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Government has, in line with the Nations Security Council

resolution (UNSCR) 2023 (2011), made timely submissions to the

Sanctions Committee on specific national actions against Al

Shabaab; and,

Continued to call on the United Nations Security Council to review

AMISOM’s mandate to match with Al-Shabaab’s new methods of

warfare, provide the necessary force multipliers and enablers;

and, ensure predictable, adequate and sustainable funding to

enable it to effectively execute its mandate which includes the

degrading of Al Shabaab.

III: ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY PILLAR

32. Kenya is a champion for environmental sustainability, by the fact

that it hosts the United Nations Environmental Programme, the

only African country to host a full United Nations Office. This is

a leadership role that the Ministry has been undertaking

proudly, and has made notable achievements, some of which

include;

Strengthened and Upgraded the UNEP

33. Through high-level diplomacy, the Ministry successfully lobbied for the

upgrading of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) through creation

of the post of Under Secretary General. During the 67th Session of the UN

General Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

was upgraded and secured regular and predictable funding from the UN

Budget. The UN General Assembly on 14th March 2013 renamed the

UNEP Governing Council as the United Nations Environment Assembly of

UNEP. Consequently, the inter-sessional body of UNEP has a universal

character and its membership increased from the current 54 to the entire

membership of the United Nations of 193.

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Hosted the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) 34. Through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Kenya successfully hosted the 1st and 2nd United Nations Environment Assembly at the

UNEP Headquarters in 2014 and 2016. The overarching theme of the 2nd

Assembly was “Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015

Development Agenda, including Sustainable Consumption and Production.”

During the Assembly, Kenya played a key role both within the African

Group, and in the Group of 77 and China, in negotiating a number of

resolutions.

The 3rd UN-Habitat Conference

35. Habitat III, the 3rd United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable

Urban Development was held in October, 2016, the first global conference

after the Post 2015 Development Agenda. During the Conference, the UN-

Habitat, headquartered in Nairobi, was placed at the focal point to oversee

implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). During the 71st session of

UNGA, Kenya made a presentation on the assessment of UN-Habitat with

recommendations on how to improve its effectiveness, efficiency,

accountability and oversight. Currently, the Ministry is negotiating a draft

resolution at the Second Committee to give effect to the Quito outcome

document.

Co-chair in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

36. During the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in

September 2015, world leaders unanimously adopted the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs). Through the efforts of the Kenya Permanent

Mission to the UN, Kenya was chosen as a co-facilitator of the Open

Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kenya

therefore formed part of an Inter-Governmental Forum responsible for

designing the Global Development Goals to succeed the MDGs which

expired in September 2015. This enabled Kenya to occupy a critical

position in determining the destiny of the people worldwide since the SDGs

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United Nations Security Council Reforms within the African Union

37. Kenya’s position on United Nations Security Council Reforms is aligned to

the African Common Position. Kenya is a member of the Committee of Ten

(C-10) which is spearheading Africa’s position.

38. Africa is seeking for the expansion of the Security Council from the current

15 seats to 26 seats. The Ezulwini Consensus adopted in March 2005 and

called for at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non-

permanent seats on the Security Council for Africa. Once accepted, the

African Union would choose which African countries will get the seats.

Africa supports regional representation to ensure that the new seats to the

Security Council are representative of regional groupings, giving due

consideration to equitable geographical distribution. Africa is the only

region that is not represented in the Council in the permanent category.

Hosting of the Global Sustainable Blue Economy conference

39. Nothing can better demonstrate the global leadership we have attained

and continue to enjoy than the world wide support we are receiving for

hosting the first global blue economy conference in November 2018. This

conference offers an opportunity to advance shared priorities in supporting

and implementing the Sustainable Development Goal no 14 …" to conserve

and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine ecosystems for

sustainable development.” Among the anticipated outcomes from this a

range of business and investors that will come into Kenya to seize and

open up the opportunities in our maritime domain, but we also anticipate

to share both the priorities and strategies for engaging in a theatres that is

by definition transnational. Our economy will not be left from benefiting

as well. With an estimated 6,000 delegates, more than 60 side events and

exhibitions, we expect that the blue economy conference, like those hosted

before, will spur a range of diverse economic and investment interactions

23

and returns for Kenyan businesses, large and small.

IX: CONCLUSION

40. The ultimate objectives of our foreign policy, as enunciated through our

diplomacy at the highest level; are first, to protect our independence and

sovereignty, and second, to expand opportunities for our citizens to

overcome our economic limits. To optimize the opportunities and secure the

long term interests of Kenya, we leverage our diplomacy at various levels.

41. It is with this in mind that, since taking office in 2013, the administration

of President Uhuru Kenyatta has focused not only restoring our place

among the community of nations, - from a country where some countries

were defining us as one where they deal only by limited essential contacts,

to a most sought after global leader – whose premier diplomat – is invited to

the most prestigious global club the G7 in a row, to being invited and

hosting the 3 permanent members of the UNSC in a span of 10 days

between 27th August and 4th September 2018. This has translated into

spurring global interest in Kenya – investment and appetite for it in Kenya

is growing – claiming our rightful position as a gateway to East, Central

and Southern Africa.

54. As I conclude, I reiterate the availability and readiness of the Ministry to

share information and clarify any issue in our purview. In view of this

commitment, the Chief Administrative Secretary, the Principal Secretary,

the Political and Diplomatic Secretary and the office of Public Relations at

the Ministry are available to engage you on any of these matters.

I thank you for your kind attention.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

NAIROBI

19th September 2018