Ruto Fires Back at criticism from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after Kinshasa protested his nomination of a Consul-General to Goma. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi clarified that Judy Kiara Nkumiri’s nomination does not yet constitute a diplomatic posting.
Mudavadi emphasized that under international protocol, Kenya’s nominee must undergo parliamentary vetting, followed by Agrément and Exequatur approvals from Kinshasa before assuming duties. He stressed that the reshuffle was part of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aimed at improving service delivery, not undermining Congo’s sovereignty.
On 15 August 2025, President Ruto reshuffled Kenya’s foreign service, redeploying ambassadors, high commissioners, and consuls to 20 missions worldwide. The DRC objected a day later, citing a lack of prior consultations in Kenya’s envoy appointment. The DRC government argued that the move contradicted the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), which requires host country consent before consular postings.
Mudavadi revealed he had spoken directly with DRC’s foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner to ease tensions. He reiterated that Kenya’s actions are guided by constitutional law, diplomatic practice, and respect for partner nations.
Kenya has strong security and economic interests in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces where its troops are stationed under regional peacekeeping efforts. Nairobi also co-chairs the EAC-SADC-AU peace process, making stability in Goma vital to its strategic agenda.
The Congolese government insisted Nairobi should have engaged in consultations before announcing the envoy. It stressed that Kinshasa expects formal notification through diplomatic channels before issuing a final response. The standoff reflects deeper sensitivities in eastern Congo, especially Goma in North Kivu Province, where M23 rebels—backed by Rwanda—continue to destabilize the region.
Mudavadi maintained that Kenya’s diplomatic reshuffle was neither a geopolitical provocation nor interference in peace efforts. “The objective of this realignment is to optimize performance and enhance service delivery under Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” he said.
This exchange highlights the fine balance Kenya must strike in pursuing foreign policy while maintaining critical alliances in a region marked by conflict and overlapping interests.
