Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Foreign Affairs principal secretary (PS) Macharia Kamau has
issued a circular barring State departments and agencies from
communicating directly with foreign governments and missions.
The
circular to all PSs demands that official business with foreign
governments and foreign missions be transacted through the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
“Several
government circulars have been sent to remind of this valuable tool of
advancing national interests, foreign policy, consolidating and
protecting the gains made in engagements with foreign governments,” says
the circular dated April 30, 2018.
Mr Kamau further
demands that all appointments with diplomatic missions in the country be
secured and communicated through his ministry, signalling that some
heads of government agencies have been speaking to foreign governments
directly.
The PS also says that a notification needs to be sent to the
Foreign Affairs ministry whenever diplomatic missions seek appointments
with other ministries, departments and government agencies.
Edwin Limo, the head of public communications at the ministry, however described the circular as routine communication.
“There
have been cases where the departments and agencies held discussions
without involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which means we cannot
follow up or advise on such a matter. Our role is not to interfere or
control the discussions but to provide guidance and to follow up,” said
Mr Limo.
The circular also reaffirms the clause on all official foreign travel being processed through the ministry.
“This
is to ensure that a proper brief is made available. It will also enable
the Kenya mission accredited to the country being visited to assist in
securing the necessary appointments and finalising the programme during
the visit,” the circular says.
Mr Limo further added
that the ministry provided essential background on Memorandums of
Understanding (MOUs) and agreements signed with other countries, which
is essential.
The circular comes nearly two years after
the then Meru Governor Peter Munya caused a stir in diplomatic circles
after he chose to open diplomatic talks with Somaliland, upsetting
Somalia.
State House reacted with a warning to
governors against engaging sovereign states without the national
government’s express permission.
This
is not the first time the government has put in place strict measures
on dealings and travel of State officials to foreign countries. A
previous circular to PSs and chief executives of State corporations
demanded that they seek authorisation to travel abroad.
In
September, a directive was issued indicating that no official was
allowed to travel outside the country without authorisation by the
President. The officials in reference include Cabinet secretaries, PSs
and officers in ministries, chief executive officers of parastatals and
their officers and directors of parastatals.
A past
memo also stated that delegations led by Cabinet secretaries are limited
to five officials while those led by PSs, parastatal chief executives
and directors and commissioners of independent commissions would be
limited to three.
Any exceptions to the size of the delegation is subject to approval by the head of public service.
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