DP Kindiki tasks envoys to drive trade, investment abroad

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the closing of the 19th Ambassadors’ Conference in Nairobi on March 30, 2026 / DPCS

Deputy PresidentKithure Kindiki has directed Kenyan envoys to prioritise trade and investment promotion as part of a broader shift toward results-driven diplomacy.

The deputy president said Kenya’s foreign missions must play a central role in advancing the country’s economic agenda.

Speaking during the closing of the 19th Ambassadors’ Conference in Nairobi, Kindiki said diplomatic engagement must now be firmly aligned with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

He said that embassies and missions abroad are expected to actively secure markets, attract investment, and position Kenya as a competitive global partner.

“Kenya’s diplomacy must deliver. It must deliver economic opportunity. It must deliver security and stability. It must exert influence in shaping global outcomes. Our missions must operate with a clear line of sight between what they do abroad and what it means for the Kenyan citizen at home,” Kindiki said.

Kindiki noted that Kenya is well-positioned to leverage its strengths, including political stability, leadership in renewable energy and climate action, and its status as a regional hub for diplomacy, logistics, and finance.

“These are not abstract attributes; they are strategic assets. The task before our diplomatic service is to convert these assets into measurable national gain,” he said.

The Deputy President also reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to regional peace and security, noting that the country’s economic progress is closely tied to stability in the region.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the closing of the 19th Ambassadors’ Conference in Nairobi on March 30, 2026 / DPCS

He said Kenya will continue to play a responsible role in addressing emerging security challenges.

On the global stage, Kindiki urged diplomats to be proactive in shaping international outcomes through sustained engagement and coalition-building.

He highlighted the importance of safeguarding the welfare of Kenyans living abroad, describing the diaspora as a critical extension of the country’s economic capacity.

“We will continue to advocate for a more equitable and responsive international system, but we must also engage with the discipline required to influence outcomes. The protection, dignity, and empowerment of Kenyans overseas is not optional. It is a core obligation,” he said.

While acknowledging concerns over limited resources within diplomatic missions, Kindiki said the government is working to address the challenges but stressed the need for accountability and efficiency.

He urged ambassadors, high commissioners, and envoys to execute their mandate with discipline and focus, reminding them of their responsibility to represent national interests.

“You carry the authority of the Republic. You carry the expectations of our people. And you carry the responsibility to deliver,” he said.

The four-day conference brought together senior government officials and Kenyan envoys from across the world to deliberate on the country’s foreign policy direction amid shifting global dynamics.

Kindiki formally declared the 19th Ambassadors’ Conference closed, calling for a confident and strategic approach to Kenya’s engagement with the world.