Diplomacy News A Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Issue No. 007 February 10, 2017

Republic of Kenya

Ministry Trains Performance Champions……………………………….. 2 Kenya Salutes Gambia ……………………………………………………. 2 New Foreign Service Cadets Inducted ……………………………………. 3

Lake Turkana Basin to be Jointly Managed ……………………….. 3 Call for Innovative Disruptive Models for Transformation ……….. 4 Kenya, Mauritius to Establish JCC………………………………….. 4

President Uhuru Kenyatta

follows proceedings during

the 28th African Union

Summit held in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia from January 22 —

31 2017

By Edwin Limo & Kawira Githinji

T he spirited campaign for election of Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to African Union Commission

(AUC) Chairperson came to a close in Addis Ababa Ethiopia when her worthy competitor, Mr. Mahamat Moussa Faki, wriggled out a win on the seventh round. The Chadian was declared the winner after garnering 38 votes in the seventh solo-round having garnered 28 votes against Kenya’s 25 votes in the sixth round. On behalf of the Government of Kenya, State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu congratulated the new chair-person; “We congratulate him on a race well won. We pledge to work with him to defend the pan-African agenda of integration of Africa as well as democracy.”

Kenya had engaged in a rigorous campaign spearheaded by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto together with a seven-man cabinet sub-committee headed by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi, which traversed the continent visiting a record 51 African countries.

The aim of the visits by the special envoys was to seek support and convince Africa that the Kenyan candidate was best qualified for the job and would make a difference at AUC.

Amb. Mohamed was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta after wide consultations with other African Heads of State and Governments. He said that the government of Kenya believed that her experience and knowledge would promote consensus and drive African agenda forward.

Speaking during a luncheon hosted in her honour by Kenya Women Leaders at Intercontinental hotel on February 1, 2017, Amb. Mohamed said that “Kenya respects the sovereign decision of African Union member States and will uphold Pan African ideals as well as a strong positive rela-tions with all AU member states notwithstanding the out-come of the AUC vote.”

The luncheon reviewed and celebrated Kenya’s brave con-test for the AUC chair, noting that “our performance is an inspiration for young women seeking to break the glass ceiling in all areas of human endeavour,” Amb. Mohamed said, adding that “we should endeavour to bequeath up-coming generations of women a legacy greater than our heritage.

Other candidates in the race included Botswana’s Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson – Mitoi, Equitorial Guinea Agapito Mba Mokuy and Senegalese Abdoulaye Bathily.

In July 2016 the elections flopped after the three candidates contesting then failed to garner the two-thirds majority vote in Kigali, Rwanda

AUC is the secretariat of the Union entrusted with executive functions. It is composed of officials including; chairper-son, a deputy chairperson, eight commissioners and staff members. It is made up of eight portfolios namely; Peace and security; Political affairs; Trade and Industry; Infra-structure and Energy; Social Affairs; Rural Economic and Agriculture; Human Resource; Science and Technology; Economic Affairs.

DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR AUC CHAIRPERSON POSITION

Editors Note

Happy New Year 2017.

After new year festivities, we are back with the first issue of Diplomacy News for 2017.

This year we are committed to bring you well researched, factual and entertaining stories. As usual your feedback for publishing or otherwise is welcome. Such to be sent to the email provided.

Enjoy your reading.

Ministry Trains Performance Champions

By Kawira Githinji

T he Ministry has launched automated Performance Man-

agement System (PMS) that will see reporting of achievements/performance in real time. Performance Contract champions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under-took Performance Management training at Masada Hotel in Naivasha from January 30 to February 3, 2017. The Central Planning and Project Monitoring Department (CPPMD) headed by Mr. Joseph Masila and his team trained staff drawn from different directorates, divisions and units on the automated performance. The System, which was introduced in 2016 aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in reporting of achieve-ments of Performance Contract targets. The Ministry embraced performance management as a tool to improve effec-tiveness in service delivery. Performance management is a continu-ous process by which an organisation involves all its employees as individuals in departments and sections on achieving its goals. The training entails setting goals, measuring progress, giving feedback, training and mentorship, and rewarding achievements to ensure accountability, ownership and responsibility of programs and projects across the Ministry. The PC runs for one financial year and reporting is done on a quarterly basis

(September, December, March and June) and annually at the end of the contract period. Every achievement recorded is backed by authenticated documentary evidence indicating performance. No scores are awarded where there is no evidence to prove performance. At the end of every contract period, Ministries must submit an annual performance report detailing actual performance against the targets that were negotiated and agreed upon at the start of the financial year.

The CPPMD Director emphasized that officers are part of the PC process and have a responsibility to ensure that the Ministry meets the agreed targets. He encouraged officers to take proac-tive steps to understand the entire performance contracting process and have a positive attitude towards the process. Officers acknowledged that the training was timely and will go a long way in facilitating delivery of their day to day work.

Members of staff are taken through a presentation during the Performance Contract Training conducted at Masada Hotel in Naivasha

Kenya Salutes Gambia By Edwin Limo

K enya expresses solidarity with ECOWAS and calls for a

speedy and bloodless end to the crisis in the Gambia, Cabinet Secretary, Amb. Mohamed has said. “We congratulate the New President H.E. Adama Barrow and wish him well as he takes over the reigns of power in

a sisterly country,” CS Amina said in a statement She said the democratic change in the Gambia was a historic milestone in our collective history and reaffirms the commitment of Africa to take responsi-bility and deepen democracy in the Continent. She thanked the International Com-munity and pledged Kenya’s readiness to offer any assistance required.

2

New Foreign Service Cadets Inducted

By Wambui Kigathi

T he Principal Secretary Amb. Monica Juma on January 9,

2017 officially opened a three-month induction course for newly recruited Foreign Service Cadets at the Kenya School of Government. The course is meant to expose the Cadets to the Kenyan Foreign Service and their expected role as Foreign Service officers. It should impact in them a clear sense of the mandate, scope of work, the required skills, knowledge and most importantly attitude necessary to optimise their

contribution in the pursuit of Kenya’s national interests in the international arena. Amb. Juma reminded them that the work of a foreign service officer is to promote Kenya’s national strategic interest abroad: Protecting Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; enhancing regional peace and security; advancing the economic prosperity of our nation and its people; projecting Kenya’s image and prestige; promoting multilateralism; promoting the interests of Kenyans Diaspora and partnership with the Kenyans abroad.

“You are joining the Foreign Service at a time when the global system is experiencing rapid changes with huge ram-ifications to its stability; globalisation and the rising threats of terror-ism are some changes that may require your attention as diplomats. “These changes place a heavy burden on the 21st Century diplomat. It is not business as usual. Therefore, the analysis and deeper understanding of the

Kenyan Foreign Policy is at the core of the duties and responsibilities of Kenyan diplomats,” said PS Juma. Amb. Juma reminded the young diplomats that the Public Service of Kenya has equally been undergoing tremendous change. Part of these changes is the demands it places on individual officers in terms perfor-mance, integrity and personal discipline. Present at the opening ceremony was Political and Diplomatic Secretary, Amb. Tom Amolo, Director Foreign Service Academy Amb. Simon Nabukwesi and Ms. Sarah Ng’ethe the training co-ordinator.

Lake Turkana Basin to be Jointly Managed

PS Monica Juma

gives her keynote

speech during the

official opening of

a three-month

induction course

for the newly

recruited Foreign

Service Cadets at

the Kenya School

of Government of

January 9, 2017

(OUV) of the Lake Turkana Heritage Sites,” said Amb. Amolo. The goal of SEA is to undertake a study on the direct, indirect and cumulative impact of development policies, programs and plans on the Lake Turkana Basin and its implications on the OVU. The SEA will analyze environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects of policies, programmes and plans related to heritage, energy, agricul-ture, fisheries, livestock, environmen-tal and water sectors at Lake Basin in Kenya and Ethiopia.

The Lake Turkana National Parks were designated as World Heritage Site in 1997 and this designation were extended in 2001. Present and signing for Ethiopia was Amb. Shemsudin Ahmed who also doubled as the head of Ethiopian delegation.

By Andrew Kuria and Wambui Kigathi

K enya and Ethiopia have agreed on Terms of Reference

(TORs) for Lake Turkana Basin wide Strategic Environmental Assessment study (SEA), after two-day bilateral talks held at the National Museum of Kenya on January 13, 2017. Speaking during the signing Ceremony Political and Diplomatic Secretary Amb. Tom Amolo called for close collaboration between the two countries during the SEA process. “Lake Turkana is a vital asset to both countries, and it is of critical importance that we safeguard this shared natural heritage and preserve the Outstanding Universal Value

Kenya and Ethiopia hold bilateral talks at the National Museum

of Kenya on January 13, 2017

3

Call for Innovative Disruptive Models for Transformation

By Rose Wachuka

K enya’s Foreign Affairs Cabi-net Secretary Amb. Amina

Mohamed held an intergenerational dialogue with the founder, staff and students of the African Leadership University in Mauritius on January 5, 2017, Dr. Mohamed was in Mauritius to deliver H.E Uhuru Kenyatta’s special message to the Prime Minister of Mauritius and to open official bilateral discussions between Kenya and Mauritius. The Chairman and founder of the African University Fred Swaniker, described Amb. Mohamed as an inspiring and great leader for young people and the women of the conti-nent Speaking at the University, Amb. Mohamed said that it was time to create the continent that Africans deserve based on common values of governance, the rule of law, pan Afri-canism and sustainability. She spoke of the importance of nurtur-ing good leadership and disrupting traditional forms of exclusionary leadership and the need to give young people a chance to lead and to solve the continent’s toughest challenges. Dr. Mohamed encouraged the students to embrace sacrifice as the real test of leadership and to break barriers inter-

fering with personal growth and development. She was emphatic that linear solutions cannot solve the world’s toughest challenges. Rather, innovation and positive disruptive solutions are key to unlocking solutions to new and existing chal-lenges. The African Leadership University’s approach to education and learning is innovative and disruptive. The Uni-versity expands the intellectual and creative spaces available to learners through a hybrid system of education that combines classroom experience with practical work experience. The target of the institution and its founders is to build 25 campuses across Africa, each with 10,000 students at any given time, making a total of 25,000 students across Africa.

Over the next 50 years, the academy targets 3,000,000 students. Plans to establish an African Leadership School of Government are underway. The University has identified seven grand challenges that call for immedi-ate attention in Africa: urbanisation, healthcare, education, climate change, infrastructure, job creation and governance. In order to tackle these challenges, opportunities lie in agriculture, empowerment of women, regional integration, arts and culture, tourism and conservation. ALU is a modern institute of learning that breaks the silos of specialisation and shapes young thinkers to take decisive and bold leadership. Amb. Amina Mohamed who is a known driver of transformative reforms and projects hailed this model as a neces-sary catalyst to solid, informed and dependable decision-making.

Kenya, Mauritius to Establish JCC within one year of signing of agreement. The objective of JCC will be to enhance and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. This was reached at during a Ministerial working session held at Port-Louis, between Ministry Foreign Affairs Cabi-net Secretary, Amb. Amina Mohamed and her Mauritian counterpart Hon. Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, G.C.S.K. During the meeting the two Ministers reviewed the status of relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of enhancing close economic cooperation. The two Ministers also exchanged views on areas of pos-sible cooperation and collaboration between the two Countries. They also agreed to address impediments which hinder bilateral trade.

By Andrew Kuria

K enya and Mauritius have agreed on the establish-ment of a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC)

CS Amb. Amina

Mohamed with

Mauritian Foreign

Affairs Minister

Hon. Seetanah

Lutchmeenarai-

doo, G.C.S.K. at

Port Louis, Mauri-

tius on January 5,

2017

CS Amb. Amina

Mohamed with

students of the

African Leader-

ship University

in Mauritius on

January 5, 2017

4

Vision

A peaceful, prosperous and

globally competitive Kenya

Mission

To project, promote and pro-

tect Kenya’s interests and im-

age globally through innova-

tive diplomacy, and contribute

towards a just, peaceful and

equitable world

Core Values

Customer Focus

Patriotism

Team Spirit

Professionalism

Ethics and Integrity

Equity and fairness

PICTORIAL

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Harambee Avenue

P.O. Box 30551—GPO 00100, Nairobi/Kenya

Tel: +254 20 4949 000, +254 20 331 8888

Email : info@mfa.go.ke; mfapress@mfa.go.ke

www.mfa.go.ke

@foreignaffairskenya

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreignaffairske

Editor - Edwin Limo

Sub Editor - Jane Kariuki

Design & Layout - Kawira Githinji

Photography - Andrew Kuria

5

Foreign Affairs Ministers from Eastern Africa review status of the candidates vying for various AUC positions at African Union Offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 27, 2017

CS Sicily Kariuki hosted CS Amb. Amina Mohammed, CS Phyllis Kandie and CS Raychelle Omamo at her Harambee house office on February 1, 2017

They discussed the future of women in leadership across Africa and how Kenya and Africa will harness the potential of youth.

Foreign Affairs members of staff attending training on Performance Management System (PMS) at Masada Hotel in Naivasha on February 4, 2017

PS Monica Juma speaks with the newly appointed Foreign Service Cadets undergoing a three – month training at Kenya School of Government on January 9, 2017.