Analysis of foreign policies influencing Kenya-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations since 1963

Abstract

The diplomatic relations between Kenya and Saudi Arabia are bilateral, whereby both countries strive to benefit from the opportunities created by the diplomatic ties. The aim of the study was to analyze the foreign policies influencing Kenya-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations since 1963. Specifically the study sought to determine the pattern of Kenya-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations; analyse the policies that inform diplomatic relations between Kenya; and Saudi Arabia and assess the factors motivating diplomatic relations between Kenya and Saudi, and in particular during the four successive regimes (Kenyatta, Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru), find out the motivations behind the diplomatic relations between Kenya- Saudi Arabia even after independence, and analyse the policies that inform the diplomatic relations between Kenya and Saudi Arabia. This research adopted a descriptive research design which is qualitative in nature. The target population was the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Nairobi for oral interviews with the relevant attaches of the two governments. The researcher interviewed 20 ministry officials who participated in the study. This study depended on both primary and secondary sources of data. The instruments for collecting data from the field involved oral and written evidence through face to face interviews. Content analysis was used to analyse the data by systematically and objectively identifying specific themes from the data representing foreign direct investment from the Saudi Arabia to Kenya-diplomatic relations since 1963. The study found that Kenya and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations which were strengthened by the visit to the Kingdom by the former President Daniel T. Arap Moi in 1979 and 1983. In addition the study established that the motivations behind the diplomatic relations between Kenya- Saudi Arabia even after independence. The study also found that Kenya‟s foreign policy is anchored on five interlinked pillars that characterize her bilateral and multilateral engagement. These pillars are Peace, Economic, Diaspora, Environmental and Cultural. Many Kenyan migrants often face contract substitution in either origin or destination countries, whereby agents both legal and illegal – deliberately provide false contract information to prospective applicants to lure them to accept their employment offer. Often, Kenyans were promised to work as domestic workers but then turned to work in domestic servitude, brothels, massage parlors, or in forced manual labor. The study recommended the establishment of a Kenya diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia in order to positively influence trade, labour and security relations between the two countries. The study also recommends the signing of bilateral agreements and establishing border surveillance controls, exchange of security intelligence and implementation of signed security agreements and promoting peace negotiations and diplomacy in order to combat security issues overlapping the borders of the two countries, lack of commitment to foster a close and strong relation to preserve interests of two people of the two countries and the neglected relation between Kenya and Saudi Arabia threaten this strong relation.