Kenya’s Foreign Policy and Global Multilateral Engagements

This chapter examines Kenya's engaged multilateralism, in the region, Africa and globally. While the African continent has not been notable at global forums (besides the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and the NIEO), Kenya has been part of new ways of engagement and reconfiguring interstate relations. Its efforts and stability have allowed it to play key roles in global multilateralism. For example, it is the only African country that hosts a UN program and/or fund, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). It has vigorously resisted significant and well-funded efforts to relocate the program from the Global South to the Global North. It is also host to the UN human settlements program, UN Habitat—appropriately so, given that it is also home to some of the biggest informal settlements (slums) in Africa. Kenya is also headquarters to the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON). The three give it substantial importance—e.g., the tragic ET 302 air accident had United Nations Environmental Assembly attendees, an annual gathering of environmentalists. It also served three terms as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, most recently beating out Djibouti for one of the three coveted African spots. Its proximity to Ethiopia, OAU and AU headquarters situates it well to be a key player in diplomacy, and its pacific nature ensures that the opposition is hard-pressed to find faults. In Africa, it has membership in three African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), i.e., EAC, COMESA and IGAD. Even in terms of military collaboration, Kenya has distinguished itself, for example during Operation Atalanta. Throughout this chapter, it will be apparent that Kenya's global engagements are more multilateral than unilateral, perhaps explaining some of its reputation as an island of peace.