Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged that Kenya should not be judged “too harshly” following the recent abduction and deportation of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi and four Turkish asylum seekers.
Speaking during a media briefing on Kenya’s 60 years of diplomatic relations held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi, Mudavadi urged foreigners to avoid straining relations between Kenya and their home countries.
“I want to state first that Uganda is a strong partner of Kenya, and we want to continue maintaining strong bilateral ties with Uganda and all our other neighbours,” he said.
Addressing the controversial deportations, Mudavadi declined to confirm Besigye’s abduction but emphasized the importance of resolving disputes diplomatically.
“The incident that you refer to should not be used to judge us too harshly on Kenya’s foreign policy. We believe any concerns between us and Uganda will be resolved diplomatically, and that is what we will do at all times,” he added.
Mudavadi, flanked by Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei, reiterated Kenya’s commitment to hosting refugees, highlighting that the country currently shelters 800,000 refugees in Kakuma, Dadaab, and urban centers.
“We shall continue playing that role and hosting fellow Africans in distress until situations improve in their countries. If they wish to go back voluntarily, they can, but if not, they’ll remain in Kenya,” he said.
Mudavadi also addressed the upcoming election of a new African Development Bank (AfDB) president, affirming Kenya’s decision not to field a candidate. Instead, the government will support other countries in exchange for backing Raila Odinga’s bid for African Union Commission chairmanship.
“We have high hopes that President Ruto, who started this campaign, will have good news when he and Raila are selected as members of the African Union Commission,” he said.
He cautioned Kenyans against spreading propaganda against the former Prime Minister, noting that it could jeopardize his chances of securing the AU role.
The event marked Kenya’s 60 years of diplomatic engagement since the establishment of its first six missions in 1964. These included embassies in Beijing, Moscow, London, Bonn, Cairo, and New York.
“From this humble beginning, Kenya today has 68 missions worldwide, championing the country’s interests,” Mudavadi noted.
He detailed Kenya’s diplomatic footprint, which includes 29 missions in Africa, 16 in Asia and the Middle East, 14 in Europe, five in the Americas, and one in Oceania. Additionally, the country maintains offices in UN capitals such as Nairobi, New York, Geneva, and Paris.
