Eating Mudavadi's lunch? Weta intensifies diplomatic engagements in parliamentary diplomacy push

Wetang’ula served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2012,

In what his aides say is his bid to promote parliamentary diplomacy, Wetang’ula has hosted ambassadors, visiting ministers and delegations, calling for the deepening of bilateral relations.

On Thursday, Wetang’ula hosted Pakistan High Commissioner Ibrar Hussain Khan and discussed the India-Pakistan conflict.

In a statement following the meeting, Wetang’ula said tensions are still high despite the ceasefire and the situation remains delicate.

“I underscored the importance of restraint and urged all parties to pursue peaceful, diplomatic pathways to resolve their differences. History has shown that sustainable peace is built not on conflict, but on dialogue, mutual respect, and compromise,” he said.

He added that Pakistan remains a strategic trade partner to Kenya, particularly as the largest importer of tea.

“Any escalation of hostilities in the region could have far-reaching economic implications for both countries and the global community. I also expressed concern about the human cost of war, especially on vulnerable populations who often bear the greatest burden in times of conflict,” he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Speaker hosted a delegation from Azerbaijan led by Foreign Affairs Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who was accompanied by among others, Ambassador Sultan Hajiyev.

He said they discussed key areas of strengthening cooperation between the two states at a time Kenya is reviewing of its foreign policy to incorporate Parliamentary diplomacy.

“Kenya and Azerbaijan enjoy relations spanning various sectors, including energy, investment, agriculture, tourism and climate change. However, I noted that the balance of trade continues to favour Azerbaijan. I urged the Azerbaijani delegation to consider reviewing the existing restrictions on the entry of foreigners into their country,” he said.

He added that he had extended an invitation to the Azerbaijani parliamentary leadership to establish a Parliamentary Friendship Group with Kenya’s to further enhance bilateral ties.

On May 28, he hosted Algeria Ambassador Mahi Boumediene, with whom they discussed shared bilateral interests and explored ways to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy between the two states.

He has also played host to other ambassadors, such as China’s Guo Haiyan.

Wetang’ula is also hosting Kenya’s diplomats based abroad during their visits back home.

On May 29, for instance, he held talks with Ambassador Maurice Makoloo , Kenya’s envoy and Permanent Representative to Austria and the United Nations Offices in Vienna.

Their discussions centred on advancing Kenya’s diplomatic and strategic interests in Vienna and across Europe.

“We explored collaborative opportunities in areas such as green energy, technological innovation, scientific research, and inter-parliamentary dialogue with European nations,” he said.

The Speaker further reiterated the importance of legislative diplomacy in building bridges between Kenya’s Parliament and European legislatures.

He has also had talks with Kenya’s Ambassador to Sweden Angeline Musili who paid him a courtesy call on May 13.

He has also commented on the recent debacle involving the deportation of Kenyan lawyers and activists by Tanzanian authorities, accusing them of interfering in the country's domestic affairs of neighbouring states.

Wetangula on May 30 said Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have maintained healthy relations since the times of the founding fathers and the new generation of citizens should not spoil the broth just to prove they know something.

"I want to urge my fellow Kenyans who have started a bad habit of roaming all over East Africa to go and forment trouble and disaffection and appear to know what they think others don't know, don't be the ones to forment frosty relations between Kenya and its neighbours," he said.

The Sessional paper on Kenya Foreign Policy has, however, acknowledged the input of Parliament in foreign relations, noting that parliamentary diplomacy has gained significant prominence in the conduct of international affairs.

“In today's landscape, legislative bodies worldwide play crucial roles in shaping foreign policy. Kenyan parliamentarians have been active participants in multilateral diplomacy within the framework of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Pan-African Parliament and in various engagements,” the paper says.

Accordingly, MFA says it is strategically integrating parliamentary diplomacy within the Foreign Policy framework to ensure that legislative capabilities are effectively harnessed and leveraged to actively support the nation’s foreign policy.