The Role of Kenya’s Economic Diplomacy in Enhancing Economic Resilience in the East African Community (EAC) Region

Abstract

Economic diplomacy is emerging as a critical pillar in the foreign policy of states around the world. The Kenya Foreign Policy Framework (2014) recognizes economic diplomacy as one of the key pillars of the state’s foreign policy alongside peace diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and diaspora diplomacy. The East African Community (EAC) region has a long history of fostering economic cooperation right from the time of the East African Cooperation up to date. This is the foundation of the shared economic objective of enhancing economic development for the region as a way of building resilient economies that can overcome global economic challenges that have been occasioned by globalization and the related complex inter dependencies among states. This has seen EAC states move towards regional integration efforts. This study examined broadly how this pillar is cast towards the realization of resilient economies in the East African region and how this contributes towards the region’s economic development. It specifically focused on three crucial research objectives: first, is to examine the foreign policy formulation process touching on economic interests; secondly, is to investigate the key economic diplomacy strategies that Kenya employs in the region towards enhancing economic resilience; thirdly is to evaluate the achievements of Kenya’s economic diplomacy towards the EAC region. The study employed an explanatory research design anchored on a mixed method of data collection employing the use of questionnaires and interviews.