Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has assured the country and the international community that Kenya remains a key ally of the United States and that Nairobi is not at war with any of its neighbours.
Mr Mudavadi, who is also the Prime Cabinet Secretary, told Parliament the proposed Bill in the US Senate does not mean revocation of Kenya’s status as Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) owing to its trade ties with Iran and Russia.
He said the US has already passed a motion extending the Kenya-led, UN-authorised Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti.
"This is not a moment to politicise partnerships. Let us be measured when talking of these issues. There is an effort to create the impression that Kenya is under siege or attack. We are not under siege or attack, we are simply doing our job,” Mr Mudavadi said.
US President Donald Trump (left) and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s committee on Regional Integration yesterday, Mr Mudavadi played down reports that Nairobi’s diplomatic ties with Tehran and Moscow had triggered Washington to launch probe on Kenya’s links Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Al-Shabaab groups.
US Republican Senator Jim Risch (Idaho), who is also the chairperson of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has sponsored a Bill that seeks reassess Kenya’s designation as a major non-NATO ally. The Bill cites Kenya’s trade engagements with China, Iran and Russia and alleged links to rebel groups in Africa.
Mr Mudavadi dismissed claims of Kenya’s links to the RSF or other terror groups saying Nairobi continuous to play its role of peace building within the region. He said Iran is a major buyer of Kenyan tea and Kenyan farmers need markets whether in the US, Europe, or elsewhere.
“These concerns were not raised by the US executive but by a single senator. There is misrepresentation on some of these issues,” he said.
“Kenya is a sovereign state and must be free to engage with any nation in the interest of its people. We are merely exercising our sovereign right to pursue economic opportunities for our farmers and traders, peace and security for our country and the region.”
He said President William Ruto or himself had not made official visits to Russia or Iran to signify that Kenya had shifted its geopolitical allegiances from Washington.
“On what basis is this review being conducted? Some politicians are exploiting the country’s diplomatic challenges for political gain,” he said.
He added: “With African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire this year, we are already in bilateral talks with Washington to secure a new trade framework.”
He said AGOA was an incentive for all African nations, but if the US is not renewing it for everyone, then each country must negotiate its own terms.
Mr Mudavadi said Kenya is in talks with the US on how to structure future trade relations, including discussions on President Donald Trump tariffs.
He said Kenya is engaged in the peace building in the warrying Sudan and South Sudan to ensure security in the region.
Mr Mudavadi said Kenya is not involved in the war in Sudan and that the warrying parties should know that peace will not be attained militarily but through dialogue.
“Let the warrying parties sort themselves and sit at the negotiating table. Kenya is not involved in the Sudan war in any way in hostile activities. We have hosted peace meeting between the factions and even in South Sudan who signed an agreement for peace at Nyayo Stadium,” Mr Mudavadi said.
“Kenya is not under siege or attack diplomatically. This is not the time to politicise partnerships,” he said.
He said Kenya continues to provide humanitarian support to its citizens and other nationals trapped in the Sudan war.
