First-ever envoy nominee to Abidjan vetted as Kenya courts West Africa
Kenya currently has no diplomatic footprint in Abidjan but Nairobi has revived efforts to court the West Africa bloc, the largest at the African Union.
Former Bomet Senator Christopher Langat was the last envoy nominee to appear before the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee on Friday, April 5, 2024.
The trained teacher is poised to become the first-ever Kenyan ambassador nominee to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
More To Read
If approved by the committee, he will lead efforts to establish the country's inaugural mission in Ivory Coast, marking Kenya's second diplomatic presence in Francophone West Africa.
During the vetting, Langat who has no prior diplomatic experience was grilled on whether he would be able to establish a new mission without knowledge of the local language.
"Will you sustain the pressure of establishing an embassy in Abidjan in a country that is deeply French-speaking?" Posed Imenti Central MP Moses Kirima.
"Language is no longer a barrier. I will look for the right personnel who know the language," said Langat, a former Moi University lecturer.
Kenya currently has no diplomatic footprint in Abidjan but Nairobi has revived efforts to court the West Africa bloc, the largest at the African Union.
The East African country has faced consistent challenges in broadening its influence in West Africa despite committing to establishing seven new missions.
The nearest embassy is in Accra, Ghana bordering the Ivory Coast to the east.
Christopher Langat, Kenya's first-ever Ambassador nominee to Côte d'Ivoire, will establish the country's first diplomatic mission in Abidjan and the second in Francophone West Africa, if approved by the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee. pic.twitter.com/dAcELzqL3a
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) April 5, 2024
Trade ties
MP Joshua Kandie raised concerns with the nominee regarding the unfavourable trade balance between Nairobi and Abidjan, which currently stands low and negative towards Kenya.
"My first work will be to conduct a survey and establish the trade differences between the two countries and I will identify the areas of commonalities too," said Prof. Langat who served as Bomet senator between August 2017 to August 2022.
He added, "I will ensure the Kenyan Chamber of Commerce engages in a trade conference with their equals in Abidjan to improve relations."
"We import a lot of cocoa and cashew nuts and take our tea to their country. We are way ahead on capacity building and tourism. I will persuade them to take advantage of our established colleges and institutions," he noted.
The former senator declared his net worth at Sh20 million.
Top Stories Today
- State pays Sh70 million to wildlife conflict victims in Laikipia
- Counties, KPLC clash over fibre revenues and unpaid wayleave charges
- State pours Sh2.8 billion into affordable housing research
- Kenya Power adds 134,630 rural users but sees first revenue dip since 2020
- Mandera leaders visit Banisa to de-escalate tension following killing of six family members
- Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine to seek presidency, chides West over rights
- Interior CS Murkomen allays fears of increased Al-Shabaab attacks
- Financing peacebuilding likely to feature in UN's architecture review this year
- Ruku orders probe into NYS procurement process amid allegations of embezzlement of Sh2bn
- Were's murder case: Why LBDA director Ebel Ochieng is seeking magistrate's recusal
- Government leases four state-owned sugar mills to private firms for 30 years
- Bodyguard, driver were in contact with MP Charles Were’s killers- Police
- Politician Philip Aroko detained for seven days in probe into Were's murder
- Rights group seeks to join suit targeting police officers who conceal identity during operations
- Mwilu had no power to appoint bench in Gachagua impeachment case, court rules
- High Court bars police from investigating extra-judicial killings, abductions
- Were murder case: High Court orders Aroko to be produced on Monday
- Parastatals merger: 3,100 jobs at risk as Treasury plans retirement offers
- Ruto moves to end ‘hakuna dawa’ with Sh10bn boost to KEMSA
- Contractors hopeful as state nears end of Sh518.7bn pending bills review
