Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on African countries to invest more in diplomatic training, saying the continent needs highly skilled negotiators capable of shaping decisions at regional and global forums.
Mudavadi said Africa’s influence should not be measured by simply having representatives at international meetings, but by whether those representatives can negotiate effectively, shape agendas and advance the continent’s interests.
“The question is whether we are going to have a meaningful presence at these tables, or simply presence,” Mudavadi said.
He spoke during the launch of the Foreign Service Academy’s Resource Mobilization Strategy 2026 – 2029.
Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said securing representation at international forums was only the first step.
He said African diplomats must have the expertise, confidence and negotiating skills needed to influence the decisions made at those forums.
According to Mudavadi, modern diplomacy requires professionals with a strong understanding of global affairs, technical expertise and the ability to respond to rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics.
“Kenya’s diplomatic engagement is taking place against a rapidly changing international environment characterized by disruptions to multilateral institutions, growing pressure on regional economic blocs, shifting global alliances and emerging geopolitical tensions,” he said.
He said diplomats today must be equipped to handle negotiations covering trade, climate change, security, technology, development financing, peace and other emerging international challenges.
He also challenged the Foreign Service Academy to expand its mandate beyond Kenya and position itself as a leading centre for diplomatic training on the continent.
“We need to transform the Academy into a continental hub that would create opportunities for African countries to pool expertise, share experiences and jointly invest in the development of professionals capable of advancing African interests in an increasingly competitive global order,” Mudavadi said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also called on development partners, diplomatic missions and other stakeholders to support the Foreign Service Academy’s Resource Mobilisation Strategy.
The strategy is expected to strengthen the Academy’s ability to train diplomats for an increasingly complex global environment.
Mudavadi also spoke ahead of Kenya’s 16th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution on August 27, calling on diplomats and development partners to support efforts to strengthen constitutional governance.
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