Kenya’s diplomatic footing continued to slide this week after President William Ruto’s remarks in China sparked a backlash at home deepening concerns about the country’s entanglement in global rivalries and its inconsistent foreign policy stance.
Speaking Wednesday at a forum in Beijing, Ruto appeared to downplay the economic standing of neighboring Uganda and Tanzania, describing them as “least developed countries” (LDCs) in contrast to Kenya’s middle-income status.
The comments—meant to highlight Kenya’s disadvantage in accessing duty-free exports to China—triggered an uproar among locals, who accused the president of insulting vital regional allies.
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Kenya’s diplomatic footing continued to slide this week after President
William Ruto’s remarks in China
sparked a backlash at home deepening concerns about the country’s entanglement in global rivalries and its inconsistent foreign policy stance.
By Benjamin Imende