President Uhuru Kenyatta's foreign trips good for Kenya

Tetu MP Ndungu Gethenji

In his article written in 2009 on the challenges faced by Barrack Obama in the wake of the global economic crisis, Dr Yilmaz Arguden, a Turkish business strategist and civic rights activists argues that “while whole elections are won by rhetoric, leadership is earned by actions”. Actions speak louder than words, as they are more credible indicators of what an individual could achieve.

To his credit, Barack Obama was able to motivate millions around the world with his campaign slogan, “Yes We Can”. In tandem with the principle of taking it beyond political rhetoric, Uhuru Kenyatta has risen to the challenge of being a beacon of hope and motivation, not only for Kenyans, but also becoming the most popular leader in sub-Saharan Africa, even winning The African President of the year award.

President Kenyatta’s administration has evolved the business environment from a primarily protectionist economy to one that clearly declares to the world “we are open for business”.
Hinged on expanding our own business interests as well as positioning our country globally has been a new reinvigorated foreign policy that has the president as the principle diplomat leading our envoys in creating partnerships, negotiating favourable agreements and of course, leading the way for Kenyan businesses seeking international trade.

Kenya’s foreign policy reflects the changing geo-political environment. Over and above the fact that Kenya is considered one of the more desirable economies to invest in, we must also ensure the political state not only of the nation but of our neighbours enhances our viability as a business destination.

To this end, it has been absolutely necessary for the President to set values as part of the national ideology pursued by his administration, values that are founded on Pan-Africanist principles of “Ubuntu”, which encompass African self-identity, self-respect, dignity, unity and achievement.

Even as Kenya works hard to transition to the new constitutional dispensation in governance, we must also not relent in our efforts to implement efforts to address the challenges brought about by poverty, exclusion and sustainability.

To this end, Kenya’s alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the Vision 2030 blueprint allows us to progressively attain an equal footing in the global sphere. As President Kenyatta stated in his key note speech in Brussels recently, “our over arching objective is to secure for our people the freedom and prosperity that are their birthrights”.

Kenyatta’s leadership in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Partnership Group (ACP) served to revitalise the Cotonou Partnership agreement with the EU though at the same time the President was firm in addressing the slow pace in removing agricultural subsidies and export competition, a matter that has for decades encumbered foreign trade with the EU to the disadvantage of African nations.

What we are now witnessing is a new era in African leadership. Kenya has not only played an increasing role in conflict resolution in South Sudan, and in stabilising Somalia, but has also taken up leadership in regional trade agreements and infrastructural projects including the Northern Corridor project, which involves at least five nations. Uhuru Kenyatta is fast emerging as a global leader of repute, given his approach to the challenges of global politics and commerce. The past the years have seen a consistency in not only attaining the goals set out by the Jubilee manifesto locally, but internationally as well.

His actions and those of his administration both locally and globally shall not erode the new-found hope and values of millions of young Africans; indeed, Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to build upon the sense and principles of “Ubuntu”, translating those principles into tangible, measurable and sustainable outcomes, proving to all of us that we can indeed become self-sustaining, enjoy our self-identity and live in harmony.