Since President William Ruto took office, his administration has made some diplomatic blunders that threatened to upset traditional allies while forging new alliances on the global stage.
Experts who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke argue that the Foreign Affairs Ministry under former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has failed to shape the country's foreign policy, leading to multiple embarrassing situations.
With the cancellation of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi state visit to Nairobi on Tuesday, July 11, the number of errors that cast doubt on the country's foreign policy is mounting.
State House officials confirmed that the visit had been scheduled in what appeared to be a last-minute effort to save face.
John Gachie, a Nairobi-based foreign affairs analyst, noted that there ought to be a new focus and strategy within the Foreign Ministry to save face especially as Ruto marks one year in office.
"The president has enough authority to do what he wants as this is his regime. He (Mutua) is in charge of the ministry and hence engages with Ruto on matters of foreign relations," Gachie noted.
"I doubt that there's a disagreement (between Ruto and Mutua) but there's a need for a new focus and strategy within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
Kenya Kwanza officials including cabinet secretaries have in the past made comments that were seen to contradict Kenya's foreign policy, but with little consequences from the country's top leadership.
This is something that Kizito Sabala, a lecturer from the University of Nairobi Department of Diplomacy says is not good for the government, and Kenya's image.
"There is a need for a serious induction and training for them to understand that every government official is a diplomat and his or her actions reflect on the country's foreign relationship," Sabala warned in a past media interview.
Iranian President Visit
The planned visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was seen as another attempt by Ruto to build his diplomatic standing.
The President has been out of the country almost every month since taking office, visiting several countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and America.
Gachie warns that close ties with Iran would not be welcomed by the West. Iran is currently under punitive sanctions over its nuclear weapons ambitions.
"Every country does its relationship with interest. For President Ruto, there must be a reason he invited the Iranian president. In this regard, both countries must have agreed in terms of bilateral ties," Gachie argued.
"Iran is not in good books with the Western world. It has its own views about Iran and as a government, you must be careful not to jeopardise relations."
But Gachie argues that African Nations should pursue relations based on interest and not influence from the West-East divide.
"Will the West be happy? Of course not, but the most important question is to look at your own interests. Diplomacy is about the country's best interest. Iranians are trying to improve their relationship with Africa as they provide us with asphalts as well as oil and on the other hand, Kenya is looking for an extra market for our tea and coffee," he indicated.
Gaffes in Ruto Administration
The latest confusion around the visit of the Iranian President adds to the list of many other blunders that Kenyans have witnessed since Ruto took office.
Days after Ruto took office in September 2022, State House sent out a tweet claiming that Kenya would no longer recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, going against years of tradition and the African Union's official policy.
The tweet was later deleted.
CS Mutua was also recently forced to clarify a statement about jobs in Canada after the Canadian Immigration Department disowned his statement. He later blamed the media for misinformation on the issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also had to disown a controversial comment by Trade CS Moses Kuria where he threatened to attack Khartoum, Sudan if the country declined to lay down the arms.
Additionally, Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi raised controversy after he claimed that he sought Zambian farmers to assist Kenyan farmers produce maize. The remarks drew reactions with critics urging Ruto to take his Cabinet through a crash course on international relations.
