Ruto masters diplomatic chess... quickly so

President William Ruto and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa hold bilateral talks at State House, Nairobi, November 9, 2022. [PCS]

His presidency started with a diplomatic gaffe - the revocation of Kenya's recognition of Western Sahara through a tweet and a U-turn - but in recent weeks, William Ruto has moved to establish himself as an astute diplomat.

In his two months in office, President Ruto has met a king, fellow presidents, prime ministers and diplomats regionally and internationally, strengthening friendships and striking multi-billion shilling deals.

On Wednesday, Dr Ruto hosted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, and announced the lifting of visa requirements for Kenyans travelling to South Africa.

"You and I are delighted to have presided over the signing of four instruments of cooperation that will play a definitive role in the Kenya-South Africa relations," said Dr Ruto of three MoUs and a cooperation agreement that will cover the housing and correctional service sectors, among others.

Mr Ramaphosa described the bilateral talks as "meaningful and constructive."

"We used our discussions - both our tete-a-tete and our official talks in the presence of our respective delegations - to take stock of our current state of our bilateral relations, while also exploring other areas of mutual interest and possible cooperation," said the South African President, expressing his commitment to having past and current MoUs implemented.

He is the third president to tour Kenya on an official visit, following Zimbabwe's Emerson Mnangagwa and Pedro Sanchez of Spain.

International audience

Ruto had just jetted in from Egypt, where he attended this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27), and urged wealthier countries to honour their financial commitments as well as unity among African countries in tackling climate change.

This was the second time Ruto was addressing an international audience, having made a speech at this year's UN General Assembly in New York, after attending the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral in the UK, all within days of his swearing-in.

On social media, the Head of State let the world know that his hands were full in his days in Egypt. Perhaps the greatest success of his engagements with foreign leaders is the Sh500 billion investment he secured from the UK, announced after his meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The deal includes the Sh425 million Grand High Falls Dam in Tana River County, which could be Kenya's second-largest infrastructural project after the Standard Gauge Railway. Other projects aimed at climate change mitigation are included in the public-private partnership.

On Tuesday, the President signed a joint declaration on climate and development partnership after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"We thank the German government for agreeing to generously scale up our action against the negative effects of climate change at the local level," said the President said on social media without revealing more details.

Before that, he had held talks with Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova, selling the country as an investment destination. Dr Ruto also met International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Since he assumed office, the President has expressed his intention to play a significant role in the climate change mitigation efforts, giving the subject prominence in his inauguration and Mashujaa Day speeches.

He chairs the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, essentially making him the continent's leading voice in climate change matters. And he has used the platform to highlight the plight of the Horn of Africa, currently facing its worst drought in four decades, and the rest of the continent.

"Kenya is a global leader in environmental matters, with the UNEP headquarters in Kenya, and so the President has no choice but to make climate change a main subject," argues university lecturer and a senior associate, Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, Prof Macharia Munene.

On the regional front, Dr Ruto has seems keen to match retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's stature, taking part in peace-keeping efforts in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both troubled by anti-government rebellion.

"Anyone would want to outdo their predecessor," Prof Munene says. "Uhuru did very well on the diplomatic field."

On the sidelines of the Sharma El-Sheikh meet, Dr Ruto held talks with East Africa presidents Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania) and DRC Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.

More diplomatic work has been done in the country, with the President meeting several delegations at the State House. They include Director-General of the United Nations Office Nairobi Zainab Hawa Bangura, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and ambassadors from Argentina and Russia, among others.

Dr Ruto has shown signs of looking West, engaging more with the US and the UK. Last month, he met a congressional delegation from the US in the company of US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.

East or West?

He has also met UK High Commissioner Jane Marriot. His first trips abroad as president were to the UK and the US, respectively, nations he visited ahead of the August 9 election in a diplomatic charm offensive.

Prof Munene argues that the President is merely interested in "getting into the West's good books."

"Meeting Western dignitaries does not mean he is more Western than Eastern."

Prof Munene believes that Dr Ruto is so far doing well, working to avoid "goofs" such as his initial position on Western Sahara.

"He is definitely listening more to the diplomats, but the first incidents - Western Sahara and reversing the ban on genetically modified organisms - show he is easily manipulable," he adds.

But he cautions: "The President appears to be rushing into many things, such as his recent deal with the UK, which could turn out to be a problem in future."