Kenya has moved to defuse tensions sparked by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s recent remarks suggesting that future wars in the region could be driven by the search for access to the Indian Ocean. In a composed and calculated response, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to supporting landlocked neighbours, including Uganda, in accessing the sea.
Speaking during a media briefing on Kenya’s foreign policy, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stressed that Kenya has never denied any landlocked state access to the port of Mombasa.
“Kenya is a responsible member of the international community, and it is in our interest to facilitate any landlocked country that wishes to use the port of Mombasa,” Mudavadi said. He added that such cooperation is mutually beneficial since increased cargo movement boosts Kenya’s economy.
Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei also downplayed Kampala’s fiery tone, saying he believes President Museveni understands the limits and rights of both countries regarding natural resources.
Museveni caused alarm last Sunday after warning that competition for sea access, for both economic and defence purposes, could trigger future conflicts. He claimed the Indian Ocean “belongs to me,” a statement that unsettled regional observers.
However, Kenyan officials anchored their response on diplomacy and international law. They pointed to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants landlocked states, such as Uganda, the right of access to the sea through transit states.
Article 125 of UNCLOS gives landlocked nations freedom of transit but also recognises the full sovereignty of transit countries, meaning access must be negotiated and mutually agreed upon.
Foreign policy analyst Gordon K’achola also clarified that the law does not entitle Uganda or any landlocked nation to sovereign territory on the coast. He warned that any pursuit of exclusive bases or territorial control could be viewed as encroachment and risk escalating tensions.
K’achola urged diplomatic engagement, noting that negotiated arrangements offer Uganda far safer and more favourable access than threats of war.
