NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 13 – Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has refuted claims that the ministry had been asked to hand over some of its authority to the office of the Deputy President.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Mutua insisted that it was in conformity with President William Ruto’s directive on the need for a whole-of-government approach in the conduct of government business.
“The Ministry has not vacated one of its key roles as that of being the coordinator and implementer of the country’s Foreign Policy” he said.
He was expected to give ministry’s correct position on a communication from the Ministry to all Diplomatic and Consular Missions, United Nation Agencies, and International Organizations allowing the said Organizations to communicate directly with Ministries, Departments and Agencies( MDAs) of the Government of Kenya without going through the Ministry of Foreign And Diaspora Affairs.
Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech also questioned why the Ministry sanctioned the decision to reorganize the communication line to sideline foreign affairs or if the decision originated from elsewhere.
“The Note Verbal only states that Diplomatic Missions in Nairobi may communicate directly with the various MDAS of the Government. The emphasis is only in the communication aspect of interactions; otherwise the conduct, coordination and implementation of Kenya’s Foreign Policy remains squarely within the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs” Mutua emphasized.
