Ruto replaces envoy to Kinshasa after year-long standoff, names Peter Tum as new ambassador
Relations between Kenya and DRC have been on a downward spiral, marked by mutual distrust and frosty diplomatic exchanges.
President William Ruto has quietly reshuffled Kenya's diplomatic presence in Kinshasa, pulling the plug on former military man Shem Amadi, whose appointment as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has remained in limbo for over a year.
Amadi, a former Kenya Air Force colonel, was posted to Kinshasa in early 2024, but DRC authorities refused to grant him accreditation, amid souring relations between President Ruto and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi.
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As a result, Amadi has remained effectively sidelined – a diplomatic envoy without a mandate.
In a bid to thaw the icy relations, Ruto has now nominated Peter Tum, previously the Principal Secretary for Sports, to take over the Kinshasa posting.
Tum's nomination signals an attempt to reset ties that have been strained by allegations from Kinshasa that Nairobi has aligned itself too closely with Rwanda—a sensitive flashpoint given ongoing regional tensions.
Relations between Kenya and DRC have been on a downward spiral, marked by mutual distrust and frosty diplomatic exchanges.
Whether Tum's appointment can help reverse course remains to be seen, especially given the DRC's lingering unease with Nairobi's perceived leanings in the region's power dynamics.
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