Kenya has clarified the recent nomination of a Consul-General to Goma after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) raised concerns over the appointment. In a statement on Monday, August 18, Deputy President Musalia Mudavadi explained that a presidential nomination alone does not constitute a diplomatic posting. The nominee, Joseph Kiaria, cannot assume office until he secures approval from both the Kenyan Parliament and the DRC government.
Mudavadi emphasized that the appointment process would adhere strictly to Article 132(2)(e) of the Kenyan Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate diplomatic and consular representatives, subject to parliamentary approval. He noted that the DRC had expressed concerns regarding Kenya’s nomination, citing the absence of prior consultations. To address this, Mudavadi revealed that he had personally engaged with DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to explain the process and reassure the neighboring country of Kenya’s respect for diplomatic protocol.
The Deputy President highlighted that, in line with established diplomatic practice, Kenya will formally request Agrément or acceptance by the host state once parliamentary approval is granted. He underscored that the recent foreign service realignment is part of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and is aimed at enhancing service delivery, rather than reflecting geopolitical tensions or interference in the sovereignty of other nations.
Musalia further reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to peace initiatives in the DRC, particularly through the EAC-SADC-AU collaborative efforts, where Kenya serves as co-chair. He described the bilateral relationship as strategic, spanning trade, regional economic integration, and security, and stressed that shared interests between the two nations continue to foster mutual prosperity.
The clarification follows a recent shake-up in Kenya’s Foreign Service announced by President William Ruto, which saw the appointment of new ambassadors, high commissioners, consuls-general, and deputy heads of mission across various countries. State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed stated that the realignment is intended to optimize diplomatic performance and improve service delivery, aligning with the administration’s broader BETA objectives.
Through these measures, Kenya aims to strengthen its diplomatic operations while maintaining constructive and respectful relations with the DRC, ensuring that both nations continue to benefit from a lasting partnership.
