By Horn Africa News
Nairobi — Kenya’s government has moved to mend strained diplomatic ties with several Gulf nations after a senior official’s comments drew criticism from Arab states. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi issued a formal apology this week, following remarks made by government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who appeared to link some Middle Eastern countries to the ongoing war in Sudan.
The apology was delivered during a high-level diplomatic meeting in Nairobi, which had initially been convened to discuss the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the focus of the meeting shifted when several Arab envoys raised strong objections to Mwaura’s recent comments, which they viewed as inflammatory and diplomatically inappropriate.
The controversial remarks had suggested that certain Middle Eastern governments may have had a role in fueling the civil conflict in Sudan, a war that erupted in April 2023 and has since resulted in the deaths of an estimated 35,000 people, with millions more displaced or in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
In response to the diplomatic backlash, Mudavadi sought to reassure the visiting Arab diplomats of Kenya’s respect for its regional partners and emphasized that Mwaura’s views did not reflect Kenya’s official foreign policy.
“Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi expressed apologies to the capitals of the member states for the statement that may have caused distress,” read a statement from his office. “He clarified that the remarks made by the government spokesperson did not represent the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Government of Kenya.”
The apology was aimed at diffusing tensions and restoring trust, particularly with key Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, all of whom have played significant roles in both diplomatic initiatives and development investments in Kenya and across East Africa.
This incident has underscored the fragile nature of Kenya’s diplomatic relations amid growing regional instability in both North-East Africa and the Middle East. Kenya, often seen as a neutral player and a regional peacemaker, has sought to maintain balanced relations across geopolitical divides. Analysts say comments like Mwaura’s threaten that carefully cultivated image.
While the apology appears to have been received positively by the attending diplomats, the incident serves as a cautionary reminder of the need for coordinated communication and diplomatic discipline within government ranks, especially when addressing sensitive regional conflicts.
As the Sudan crisis continues to unfold and the war in Gaza deepens, Kenya’s role as a mediator in regional affairs depends heavily on its ability to engage impartially and diplomatically with all parties
