Let Ruto avoid traps in minefield that is foreign affairs
Well, well, well! The game of thrones has come to an end. The Supreme Court of Kenya on Monday declared that former deputy president William Ruto was validly elected in the August 9 polls as the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya.
For Ruto, the tough and often thankless job has just begun. Millions of Kenyans are pregnant with anticipation for the fulfilment of the lofty campaign pledges he made to them under his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. Of course, all Kenyans hope that their fortunes will change for the better as soon as possible.
But as the new president grapples with domestic challenges, there is the wider world waiting for his government out there. We are living in a global village and what we do will emit impressions externally, while what happens on the international scene will also have a considerable impact on the country.
Either deliberately or by default, Ruto has not made statements that could give a clear indication of how he will steer the country’s international affairs and relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally. But his government is expected to implement the new Foreign Service Act, which prioritises regional integration. The UDA manifesto launched by Ruto promised to follow an “Africa-focused foreign policy”. This is why many African presidents were eager to congratulate Ruto after his initial win.
But the new president has not come out clearly about the nuts and bolts of Kenya’s foreign relations. Are we going to maintain old friends and make new ones? Are there those that are adding no value as close allies and need to be relegated or replaced? How are we going to leverage our popularity in tourism and athletics to position ourselves as an ideal investment destination in Africa?
Unfortunately, Ruto has made a couple of gaffes that show he needs to have a very professional foreign relations team in his government. In February, Ruto ignited a major controversy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after he claimed that “the DRC has 90 million people but do not have a single cow,” saying that the country was an ideal market for Kenya’s milk. He also derogatorily said the Congolese wear high-waist trousers.
In the second case in mid-June, Ruto warned that he would deport Chinese nationals doing petty businesses and jobs that other Kenyans can do. He also promised to reveal what has been alleged as opaque Chinese contracts, particularly on the Standard Gauge Railway.
These statements may be valid but lack finesse. While they are music to the ears of the hoi polloi during campaigns, the diplomatic world is a minefield that Ruto must learn to navigate dexterously, lest he damages hard-won trade and diplomatic relations with other nations. Unless seriously provoked, the rule of thumb in diplomacy is either to keep silent or whisper to the right ears in expressing one’s displeasure or concern.
Ruto will also be torn between a rock and a hard place as two of the world’s leading superpowers – the United States and China - jostle for Kenya’s soul and resources. The US represents the West with its long legacy of colonialism and post-colonialism. Conversely, China is a Johnny-come-lately who has managed to do a lot for the country within a relatively short time as a fully-fledged development partner.
The president’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary must attract both international appeal and respect to act as a credible voice of the new government. Kenya’s first two presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi appointed world-class foreign ministers who radiated total brilliance in international circles. Some of them were actually presidential material and attracted envy from their peers in the cabinet. This is the high esteem in which we should hold the Foreign office.
— The writer is a PhD student in International Relations.
