The government has moved to cool tensions with Kinshasa after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) questioned Nairobi’s nomination of a new Consul-General to Goma.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi on Monday said President William Ruto’s redeployment of envoys to 20 postings abroad, including Goma, was done in line with the Constitution and international protocol.
“Most significantly, the presidential nomination does not in itself constitute a diplomatic posting,” Mudavadi said in a statement.
He explained that after parliamentary vetting, Kenya will seek agrément formal acceptance from the host state and, in the case of Goma, an exequatur from the DRC government before the Consul-General can officially assume duty.
The DRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier objected, saying Nairobi failed to consult ahead of the move.
Mudavadi said the nominations had already been submitted to Parliament under Article 132 (2) of the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
He added the reshuffle in Kenya’s foreign service was meant to improve performance under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and not to undermine regional peace or sovereignty.
“This is not about adverse geopolitics. Kenya remains firmly committed to peace efforts in the DRC, including the joint EAC-SADC-AU process where we serve as co-chair,” he said.
Mudavadi revealed he had already spoken to his DRC counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to explain Kenya’s position.
Kenya and the DRC have maintained close ties since 1963. Nairobi opened a mission in Kinshasa in 1968, followed by the Goma consulate in March 2022. DRC also set up a consulate in Mombasa last year.
“Kenya respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. Our countries remain strategic partners in trade, regional integration, and security,” Mudavadi said.
