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"id": 94341,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/94341/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Foreign Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 210,
"legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
"slug": "moses-wetangula"
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, our engagement in the East African Community, COMESA and IGAD is an all embracing relationship aimed at strengthening the foundations for economic integration through Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa. Hon. Members are aware that the Common Market for the East African Community came into force on 1st July, 2010. This is a very important milestone for all of us in the Community as it will create a single trading and investment environment in the region. My Ministry will, in conjunction with the Ministry of East African Co- operation, play a critical role in ensuring compliance in the implementation of the Common Market Protocol. It is also noteworthy that with the passage of the new Constitution, Kenyaâs competitive position as far as political risk index is concerned has been enhanced. Consequently, a higher quantum of foreign direct investment is likely to flow towards Kenya within the East African Common Market, the bulk of the investments are expected to flow to Kenya as it is the dominant economy in this region. Our role in attracting and promoting investments to the region is, therefore, absolutely critical. At the continental level, Kenya will continue to actively participate in the operationalisation of the institutions of the African Union and ensuring the organization is Africaâs hub for collective bargaining with other regions and organizations. We are, therefore, committed to efforts towards the ultimate objective of the total integration of Africa. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in pursuit of our new foreign policy orientation which encompasses and emphasises on economic and trade diplomacy, we have endeavoured to forge closer co-operation with emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Latin America and the Great Lakes region. It is for this reason that we have opened new missions in BrasĂlia, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuwait, Dublin, Madrid, Bujumbura and Juba in Southern Sudan while arrangements are underway to open other missions in Doha and Muscat this year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Ministry is further planning in the next few years to establish diplomatic missions in other key locations, where we either have a large Kenyan diasporas or there is significant potential for advancement of economic opportunities. In this regard, we will also adhere as much possible to the doctrine of reciprocity by opening missions in countryâs which have also established a diplomatic presence in Kenya. The strategic interest in the above mentioned regions not withstanding, the Government still recognises the need to maintain links with our traditional, bilateral and multilateral partners. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, in his address to the House when presenting this yearâs Budget, emphasized the need to deepen public, financial management reforms. This is aimed at reducing wastage and ensuring efficiency and economy in the use of public resources in order to address the numerous challenges facing the country. My Ministry has in the last couple of years embraced those sentiments and we have rationalised our operations which have seen us do away with excessive and wasteful use of resources. The resultant savings realised have been applied in other priority areas such as the establishment of now a very vibrant Foreign Service Institute under my Ministry. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the mandate of my Ministry has been expanded to include the International Jobs and Diaspora Office in line with emphasis and focus on economic diplomacy as well as enhancement of partnerships with the diasporas. Through intense lobbying at various international fora, we have succeeded in securing jobs for Kenyans abroad in various international organizations; such include the accession of Justice Joyce Alouch to the ICC in the Hague, the appointment and election of Erastus Mwencha as the Vice-Chairman of AU Commission. Recently, for the first time, a Kenyan has been appointed as the United Nations Ambassador to the AU in Addis Ababa. He is taking up his job within the next two weeks. We will continue doing this for Kenyans in the diasporas as much as we possibly can. We have also been working with the representatives of large Kenyans Diasporas to tap their influence in their respective countries and residences and also develop incentives to encourage the diasporas to increase their remittances back home where they can contribute to national development. As you are aware, the diasporas have continued to grow with large numbers of Kenyans now gainfully employed in regions such as the Gulf, Europe and the USA. Indeed, Kenya has become a major exporter of professional skills in the entire Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, hence increasing our reach and influence in Eastern and Southern Africa. In enhancing our partnership with the diasporas, we aim to facilitate improvement in the delivery of consular services as well as develop diaspora specific products that will strengthen their links to their mother land. The Ministry thus requires resources to tap into the diaspora which will eventually create more wealth for this nation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for matters relating to all international relations and co-ordination of multilateral issues. It deals with a multitude of national interest concerns and priorities articulated at international fora. This is particularly so in the United Nations (UN) systems and its organs such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Security Council. It is the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that Kenya maximizes on opportunities offered by different international organizations in economic and social fields. It, therefore, acts as the main liaison between the specialized agencies of the UN as well as international organizations and functional ministries and departments such as the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Ministry of Health; Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for the Ministry of Agriculture; and other organizations. Kenya has diplomatic missions accredited to these and other UN organizations; that is, we have a permanent mission at the UN in New York, Geneva and Vienna. We also have a mission in Rome that covers the FAO. We have two offices in Nairobi covering Habitat and UNEP. Our role as a Ministry is to strengthen Kenyaâs collaboration with these UN and other organizations and to consolidate our countryâs bargaining position. This is achieved by working closely with other developing countries especially within the African group, the Non-aligned Movement and the Group of 77 plus China, to forge common positions and strategies that will influence the policies and programmes of these organizations to provide greater benefits for developing countries. Our role also involves lobbying these and other groups to support candidature of Kenyans to secure positions in various international organizations who can in turn influence decision-making with positive benefits to this country. My Ministryâs mandate calls for liaison with Non-Governmental Organizations, mostly international ones like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which undertakes many projects in the country and the region. The location of UNEP and the UN Habitat in Nairobi is one of the single--- Is my time running out?"
}