Diplomats must do more than refer to their policy brief today

Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly during a press conference on bilateral ties between the two countries. [Edwin Nyarangi, Standard]

Following on the heels of State House-led diplomatic initiatives with Germany, World Trade Organisation, Britain, Netherlands, and Israel over the last week, it is now clear Kenya and other nations navigate an increasingly unpredictable world with ever-shifting interests and centres of power.

Other the last 15 years, diplomacy has changed dramatically. In 2008, I unsuccessfully pressed the former Mozambiquan Ambassador to Kenya and African Diplomatic Corp Dean to publicly call for an end to post-election violence. The elderly gentlemen looked at me, puzzled and replied, "Sir, why would I do that and my statement might lead to me being recalled to Maputo the next day."