Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has challenged ambassadors to use every opportunity they get abroad to promote Kenya to ensure the country’s profile remains strong and appealing to investors and visitors.
Speaking on Monday when he presided over the closing of the 19th Ambassadors Conference in Nairobi, Kindiki said Kenya has made huge strides in all the facets of economy since 2022, challenging the envoys to spread Kenya’s economic strength and stability in their hosting countries and missions.
“You have a big role to play to project Kenya as a safe country, an important country and a country on the move. Sell Kenya in the morning, afternoon, evening, night, from Monday to Sunday, January to December. Sell Kenya forever,” DP stated.
He said Kenya’s ambition to become a first-world country is on course but will be achievable through collaboration with investors from the private sector.
The DP said the 5 million trillion dollars needed to elevate Kenya’s status can only be realized through global and local partnerships.
“We cannot do the transformation we are targeting on our own. We need investments, capital injection from the private sector. We have a lot of hope in you. You are the biggest resource we have to help the world partner with Kenya,” he added.
The Deputy President said the government is focusing on delivering infrastructural expansion including expansion of roads, railways, seaports and airports to ensure Kenyan remains the destination of choice for investors.
He challenged the diplomats to use their influential positions to shape good narratives about Kenya internationally.
“Kenya’s diplomacy must deliver. It must deliver economic opportunity. It must deliver security and stability. It must exert influence in shaping global outcomes. Anything short of this falls below the expectations of this Administration,” he reiterated.
Further, he urged them to make sure the diplomatic engagement is aligned with the national development agenda anchored on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is not confined to our borders. It must be projected outward through trade, investment partnerships, innovation, and the positioning of Kenya as a competitive and credible economic partner,” he noted.
The DP challenged the envoys to unflinchingly protect Kenya’s interests as they are the key representatives depended on by the country to make sure its position is honoured and respected globally.
“You carry the authority of the Republic. You carry the expectations of our people. And you carry the responsibility to deliver. I urge you to execute your mandate with focus, discipline, and unwavering commitment to Kenya’s interests,” he said.