The Second Cohort of recently posted officers drawn from the Ministry and other MDAs began a pre-departure training today at the Foreign Service Academy, 316 Upper Hill Chambers. Amb. Patrick Wamoto EBS, Ag. Director General of Foreign Service Academy officially inaugurated the Session.
In his opening remarks, the Ag. DG urged the officers to uphold resilience, accountability and cultural intelligence in their course of work and interactions.
“A diplomat is both a negotiator and a bridge-builder. Learn the foreign language, master their culture, and use every opportunity to tell Kenya’s story”, he said.
With the increasing importance of digital diplomacy, Amb. Wamoto also emphasized the need for officers to enhance their digital communication and social media skills in order to respond promptly to global developments or misinformation.
To justify these sentiments, Amb. Elphas Barine, Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs in making presentation on the Overview of Kenya’s Foreign Policy and International Relations, underscored that diplomacy is driven by the principle of reciprocity, building trust, fostering cooperation and ensuring mutual respect between nations.
Drawing from the foundational works of Hans Joachim Morgenthau who asserted that, “Nation States are the main actors in international relations”, Amb. Barine urged the trainees to pursue Kenya’s interests through strategic engagement at their work stations.
