Kenya clarifies nomination of Consul-General to Goma amid DRC concerns

In a statement issued on Monday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated that President William Ruto's recent redeployment of Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consul-Generals, and Deputy Heads of Mission to 20 global postings, including Goma, was fully in accordance with the Constitution and international diplomatic protocol.

“Most significantly, the presidential nomination does not in itself constitute a diplomatic posting,” Mudavadi explained. “In line with the Constitution of Kenya, diplomatic practice and protocol, once the nominee receives parliamentary approval, Kenya shall formally request for Agrément or acceptance by the applicable host states, including the DRC. In the case of Goma, the process will further require issuance of an Exequatur by the Government of DRC before Kenya’s Consul-General may assume official duties.”

The DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier objected to Nairobi’s move, citing the absence of prior consultations.

Mudavadi stated that the nominations had been forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting in accordance with Article 132 (2) of the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.

He noted that the ongoing realignment in Kenya’s foreign service was aimed at “optimizing performance and enhancing service delivery in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” and was not politically motivated.

“The objective is not driven by adverse geopolitics nor intended to undermine ongoing regional peace efforts or the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any state,” he said. “Kenya remains firmly committed to the peace initiatives in the DRC, including the joint EAC-SADC-AU initiative, where we serve as co-chair.”

Mudavadi revealed that he had already held discussions with his DRC counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to clarify Kenya’s position.

Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have maintained diplomatic relations since 1963, with Kenya establishing its mission in Kinshasa in 1968.

. The DRC also maintains a consulate in Mombasa, opened in September 2023, while Kenya inaugurated its Consulate-General in Goma in March 2022.

“May I reiterate our commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. Kenya and DRC are strategic partners in several areas, including trade, regional economic integration, and security,” Mudavadi affirmed. “The breadth of opportunities and the shared strategic interests between our two nations continue to drive our shared prosperity and lasting partnership.”