ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AND KENYA’S NATIONAL INTEREST (1963-2015)

Abstract

This study assesses the influence of economic diplomacy on Kenya’s national interest since independence. It uses library method and relies on data from official policy documents and questionnaire interviews to assess how effectively Kenya’s economic diplomacy has achieved its national interest and the factors or conditions that have determined Kenya’s economic diplomacy since independence. The study adopts the dependency approach and Wallerstein’s world system theory in evaluating the performance of Kenya’s economic diplomacy which argues that underdevelopment in the south is conditioned by development in the North. The approach assumes that the integration of the third world into the world capitalist system causes underdevelopment of the countries at the periphery of global economy. The study assumes that the dependence of Kenyan economy on the western finance capital posed a significant problem to the attainment of its national interest. Studies on trade balance (trade policies, foreign direct investments, aid and aid conditionalities) and membership to various multilateral arrangements shows that Kenya’s economic diplomacy rather than achieving its goals of boasting trade and investment is locked in dependency on the developed countries. Because of the important role of economic diplomacy in meeting Kenya’s national interest, this study recommends that Kenya’s Economic diplomacy must seek to transform the structure of the economy and free it from the burden of debt and dependency.