Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says the main role of envoys will henceforth be to market Kenya and ensure the country's business profile improves globally on top of other diplomatic duties.
Speaking on Monday, July 24 when he met Kenyans living in Italy, Gachagua noted that the government's representatives abroad will be properly briefed to realign their objectives.
He pointed out that the Kenya Kwanza administration was reviewing the roles of the envoys so that 70 percent of their work will be promoting tea, coffee, and horticultural products among others.
"All these ambassadors are going to market Kenyan products and hold frequent discussions with the host country on how to get the best deals for our products.
"We want to move away from the traditional diplomacy of attending meetings, cocktails, barbecues and such. Seventy percent of their work will be to pursue the commercial interests of our country, to market our agricultural produce, to make sure our exporters get the best deals," Gachagua stated.
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Gachagua disclosed that ambassadors would be expected to submit monthly reports showing who they have met to market Kenyan products and what deals they had entered into.
"We will soon meet with all our ambassadors, high commissioners, and their deputies and they will sign a two-year Memorandum of Understanding committing to these targets," he said.
The Deputy President also challenged the Kenyans in Italy to work closely with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
"The diaspora is critical in our economic development. The remittances from abroad to Kenya is now our number one source of foreign exchange earner ahead of tourism, coffee and tea. That's why we want to engage the diaspora further," the Deputy President said.
Present was Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, her Treasury counterpart Chris Kiptoo and Kenyan ambassador to Italy Jackline Yonga.
