Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The two week training programme on Bilateral and Multilateral diplomacy organized by the Foreign Service institute in partnership with the Diplo Foundation was officially closed yesterday with a colourful graduation ceremony held at a Nairobi Hotel.

The programme which opened on 15^th March was conducted by Amb. Prof Emeritus Kishan Rana. Amb. Rana is a renowned diplomat and senior fellow at the Diplo Foundation in Malta and Geneva.

38 officials from the ministry successfully completed the programme and were awarded with certificates at the closing ceremony. The programme focused on the challenges facing the 21^st century diplomat in the context of modern diplomatic practice.

Kenya and Rwanda hold JPC in Kigali

Foreign Affairs PS (Kenya) Mr. Thuita Mwangi (center) with Rwanda counterpart Amb. Munyakayanza and other delegates pose for a group photo.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Thuita Mwangi on March 302010 led the Kenyan delegation to Kigali Rwanda for a two-day Joint Permanent Cooperation.The PS was accompanied by officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Higher Education Science and Technology, Fisheries, Defence and several other Government ministries.

The Rwanda delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ambassador Eugene Munyakayanza.

This is the 7^th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation between Kenya and Rwanda, which covers several areas of cooperation between the two EAC partners.

The first JPC was held in February 1979, and the two countries have since realized enormous benefits over the years. Through the signing and implementation of various Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements, Kenya and Rwanda have achieved a milestone in cooperation in diverse fields of mutual interest.

In his opening speech to the conference which was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Complex, Mr. Thuita Mwangi noted that the JPC has made immense contribution in capacity building for both Kenyans and Rwandese nationals.

He noted that through the JPCs, Kenya continues to offer training to Rwandese military officers at the National Defence College. This has been achieved despite the challenges of limited capacity due to high demand and over subscription from the region. Kenya has also trained six police officers from Rwanda in Public Order while two Kenyan Police Officers have benefitted from Rwanda in the area of Senior Command.

In November 2008, Rwandan diplomats benefitted from a three week training course that was conducted by the Foreign Service Institute of Kenya which was fully sponsored by the Government of Kenya.

This year’s JPC is expected to lead the two East African Community members to economic prosperity and mutual integration.

Mr. Mwangi reiterated Kenya’s commitment in strengthening and sustaining the cordial relations with Rwanda. He commended the delegates from both countries for their commitment for the implementation of previous JPCs and the 7^th Session of the Kenya/ Rwanda JPC.

VISIT TO THE MINISTRY BY THE COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN.

A group photo after the forum. Fifth and seventh from left on the front row are Head of Middle East Division, Mr. Ken Vitisia and the DPA, Amb. Ogutu respectively. In between them is Capt. Nasser, head of the visiting group.

Kenya will soon open a resident mission in Muscat, Oman. This was disclosed during a forum held when a group of forty participants from the Command and Staff College of the Sultanate of Oman visited the Ministry on 29^th March. The interactive forum was chaired by Ambassador Ben Ogutu the Director for Political Affairs, accompanied by Ambassador Philip Mwanzia, the Director of FSI and Mr. Ken Vitisia, Head of Middle East Division. Ambassador Mwanzia welcomed the group to the Ministry.

The participants from the Command and Staff College, who were led by GP Captain Nasser Hamdoon Saif-Harthi, included three foreign students from Kuwait, Pakistan and France. In total the group comprised of 9 Command and Staff College staff and 31 students. The team was accompanied to the FSI offices by Col. Shabell form the Department of Defense here in Kenya.