Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has expressed deep concern over what he described as a reckless and unpatriotic plan by a section of Members of Parliament to travel to Taiwan during President William Ruto’s recent State visit to China.
Speaking days after the high-stakes diplomatic mission, Mudavadi lamented that the attempted trip could have severely undermined Kenya’s foreign policy and derailed progress made during the President’s engagement with Chinese authorities.
Appearing before the Senate Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, Mudavadi revealed that the MPs’ proposed visit was not only ill-timed but also potentially provocative, considering China’s firm stance on the Taiwan issue.
“We know there were some people who were pushing to have a delegation from Parliament go to Taiwan when the President of Kenya was visiting China. It could have cost the country a lot,” he said.
Mudavadi underlined the importance of unity and strategic diplomacy, especially during high-level state visits. He said that such actions, if not checked, risk sabotaging Kenya’s international partnerships and could have lasting economic and political consequences.
During President Ruto’s visit to Beijing, Kenya reaffirmed its support for the One-China policy and secured significant development deals, including the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Malaba border and a dual carriageway to the same destination.
Mudavadi suggested that some individuals were actively seeking to discredit these achievements. “There were some who did not want the government to achieve anything from the visit,” he remarked.
He urged MPs to act with patriotism and integrity, emphasizing the critical role they play in shaping Kenya’s global image.
On a broader diplomatic front, Mudavadi announced plans to invest in Kenyan foreign assets, mirroring strategies adopted by neighboring countries like Tanzania and Uganda.
He emphasized the need for robust, revenue-generating embassies, highlighting how strategic property investments abroad could help finance foreign missions without overburdening the exchequer.
