KENYA CLARIFIES DIPLOMATIC NOMINATION TO GOMA AMID DRC CONCERNS

The Government of Kenya has issued a clarification regarding the nomination of a new Consul-General to Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following concerns raised by Kinshasa about the diplomatic procedure. In a statement released on Monday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi affirmed that President William Ruto’s recent redeployment of Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consul-Generals, and Deputy Heads of Mission to 20 international postings — including Goma — was fully aligned with both the Kenyan Constitution and established international diplomatic norms.

“Importantly, a presidential nomination does not, by itself, amount to a diplomatic posting,” Mudavadi clarified. “In keeping with the Constitution of Kenya, diplomatic protocols, and international standards, once nominees are approved by Parliament, Kenya will formally seek agreement, or official acceptance, from the respective host countries, including the DRC. In Goma’s case, the nominee must also receive an Exequatur from the DRC Government before assuming official duties.”

This statement comes in response to objections from the DRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed concern over a lack of prior consultation. Mudavadi emphasized that all nominations had been submitted to the National Assembly for vetting, in accordance with Article 132 (2) of the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. He further explained that the restructuring of Kenya’s foreign service is intended to enhance performance and improve service delivery in alignment with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and is not politically driven.

Mudavadi also disclosed that he had spoken with his DRC counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to clarify Kenya’s stance on the matter.

Kenya and the DRC have maintained diplomatic relations since 1963, with Kenya opening its embassy in Kinshasa in 1968. The DRC established a consulate in Mombasa in September 2023, while Kenya launched its Consulate-General in Goma in March 2022.