Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has written to US Senator Jim Risch to clarify Kenya’s foreign policy stance following remarks the senator made regarding President William Ruto’s recent visit to China.
Mudavadi, in a televised interview on Tuesday, reaffirmed that Kenya remains a sovereign state with the right to independently choose its allies and foreign engagements. His letter aims to contextualize President Ruto’s statement during his October visit to China, where he described Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order” while addressing students at Peking University.
Senator Risch, a Republican lawmaker and ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, interpreted the remarks as an indication of Kenya aligning itself with Beijing. He warned that the United States should reconsider its relations with countries such as Kenya that “forge tight bonds with China,” suggesting such closeness may not serve American interests.
In response, Mudavadi explained that Kenya’s diplomatic relationships are guided by national interests, not allegiance to any global power. “When Kenya engages or holds talks with any country, it should not be taken out of context,” he said, adding that the senator’s sentiments represented a personal opinion and not the official position of the US government.
Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya’s engagement with China should not be misconstrued as a departure from its historic ties with the US or other Western allies. “There is one thing that we must always safeguard the sovereignty of our nation,” he asserted.
To foster better understanding, Mudavadi extended an invitation to Senator Risch to visit Kenya and engage in a deeper dialogue. “I have formally written to the senator explaining Kenya’s position and getting him to appreciate the context,” he said.
The exchange highlights growing sensitivities in the geopolitics of Africa, where global powers are competing for influence. Kenya, positioned as a key player in the region, continues to assert a non-aligned, multi-lateral foreign policy approach in balancing relationships between East and West.
