The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday announced that it will henceforth allow Foreign missions to directly engage different ministries.
The missions will also engage state departments and agencies directly and not through the ministry headed by Alfred Mutua.
“It has been agreed in the interest of efficiency, that the missions may communicate directly with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government of Kenya without going through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora affairs.
“A copy of the correspondence should however be shared with the ministry,” the letter reads.
This is a diversion from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Missions where the Foreign Affairs ministry is the official point of contact for any foreign missions to engage Kenya.
The letter also said Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will approve any engagements by foreign missions that will require two or more ministries to engage.
“Requests of meetings of cross-cutting nature and that involve more than one ministry, it is advised that such requests should be made through the office of the deputy president for coordination purposes.”
The new announcement by CS Mutua is largely seen as a move by President William Ruto to strip him of his powers. This comes even as questions have been raised on his working relationship with Ruto.
Some quotas argue that Trade CS Moses Kuria has been performing duties that ideally be performed by Mutua due to his frequent travels to meet leaders in other countries. According to Kuria however, this is not the case.
Speaking during a recent interview on Citizen TV, Kuria said Ruto appointed him a special envoy to engage neighboring countries, to see to it that Kenya returns to its rightful position in the region.
“In this month of February, I have met 11 Presidents, 10 sitting presidents and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete a former president. I was not sending myself. I was appointed special envoy by President William Ruto to talk to our neighbors and try to re-establish our leadership in the region,” Kuria said.
Kuria insisted that his role, despite the trips is solely based on economic matters.
“My mission was purely about the economy, business and trade and I’m very grateful to President Ruto for appointing me as special envoy.”
However, while sharing news of the changes, Mutua said that it was because he had been perturbed by pending MoUs and lost opportunities which were as a result of the procedures involved.
He added that the decision was arrived at after consultations with the diplomatic community.
“As CS for Foreign and Diaspora affairs, I have been bothered by many pending MOUs and lost opportunities due to traditional and mostly elitist-based bureaucracy. After talks with the diplomatic community, I have issued the following notice for Chap Chap interactions,” he said.
