Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has sharply criticised Members of Parliament who attempted to organize a visit to Taiwan during President William Ruto’s state visit to China, describing the move as both reckless and malicious.
Appearing before the Senate Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, Mudavadi revealed that some legislators had been lobbying for a parliamentary delegation to travel to Taiwan at the same time Ruto was in Beijing working to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with China.
Mudavadi warned that such an action would have risked severe diplomatic fallout and undermined Kenya’s established foreign policy.
“We know there were some people who were pushing to have a delegation from Parliament to go to Taiwan when President Ruto was visiting China. It could have cost the country a lot,” said the visibly angry Mudavadi.He emphasized that foreign relations should not be used for political games or personal agendas, and reminded elected leaders of their responsibility to consider the broader national interest in their actions. Mudavadi noted that the proposed trip would likely have been seen as a direct provocation, especially as Kenya was reaffirming its commitment to the One-China policy at the time.
“Kenya’s position with respect to China is that we have adopted a one-China policy and that is the partnership that we’ve had with China ever since. Therefore, we do not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. We believe in a one-China policy and that’s the principle that has been guiding us, not just now, but to the best of my knowledge, each successive government has maintained the one-China policy and it is in our strategic interest that we maintain the one-China policy,” Mudavadi affirmed.
