Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that competition among global powers for influence in Africa could worsen political and economic tensions, calling for stronger regional cooperation and diplomacy to safeguard peace and security.
Mudavadi said Africa's vast natural resources, mineral wealth and growing youthful population had attracted traditional and emerging global powers seeking to expand their influence through strategic partnerships, infrastructure financing and security cooperation.
He cautioned that competition among external actors could deepen existing tensions if not managed through transparent, inclusive and locally driven approaches.
“The resulting competition among external actors can, and already has, exacerbated existing political and economic tensions. If not managed through transparent, inclusive, and locally driven approaches, these tensions can spark both intra and inter-state conflicts,” Mudavadi said.
He spoke on Wednesday, October 14, during a lecture at the National Defence College in Karen, Nairobi, titled “The Role of Kenya’s Foreign Policy in Regional Peace and Security and the Contemporary Strategic Environment.”
The lecture was held at the invitation of National Defence College Commandant Lieutenant General Juma Shee Mwinyikai and brought together senior military officers, civil servants, private sector representatives and participants from neighbouring countries undertaking Course No. 29 of the 2026/2027 academic year.
Mudavadi, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said Kenya remained committed to proactive bilateral and multilateral engagements to address regional and global security challenges.
He noted that persistent insecurity, governance deficits and socio-economic inequalities continued to undermine Africa's development despite progress in economic growth, democratic governance and regional integration.
“Protracted conflicts, intensified activities of non-state armed groups and transnational organized crime continue to undermine state authority and hinder development in several regions,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary identified the conflict in Sudan, political tensions in South Sudan, instability in Somalia and the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as major challenges affecting peace in Eastern Africa.
He also pointed to the threat of violent extremism, particularly from groups such as Al-Shabaab, alongside cross-border tensions and conflicts within and between states.
Mudavadi said addressing these challenges required coordinated strategies combining diplomacy, defence, development and governance.
“Strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing international cooperation, and fostering inclusive political settlements are crucial for navigating the complexities of the evolving strategic landscape,” he said.
He reaffirmed Kenya's support for regional institutions, including the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
However, he noted that their effectiveness was sometimes constrained by limited financial capacity and political differences among member states.
Mudavadi also warned that prolonged conflicts had exposed limitations in international diplomacy, weakened confidence in global governance institutions and diverted resources from other pressing priorities.
During the lecture, he outlined Kenya's revised Foreign Policy 2024, anchored on Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, which seeks to advance the country's national interests amid changing global dynamics.
The policy identifies eight strategic areas: peace and security diplomacy, economic and commercial diplomacy, socio-cultural diplomacy, diaspora diplomacy, digital diplomacy, environmental and climate diplomacy, global health diplomacy, and global governance and multilateral diplomacy.
Mudavadi said Kenya's approach recognised that peace could not be achieved through military preparedness or diplomatic engagement alone.
“We must therefore continue to invest in the partnerships, institutions and capabilities that enable us to anticipate threats, prevent conflict and support peaceful political settlements,” he said.
He added that Kenya would continue advocating for a fairer and more representative global governance system capable of addressing emerging security challenges.
“For Kenya, foreign policy is not simply an instrument for managing relations between states. It is a means of protecting our sovereignty, creating opportunities for our people, safeguarding our development ambitions and contributing to a more peaceful and secure world,” Mudavadi said.
