Public Diplomacy as Kenya’s Strategy for Peace in East Africa

This research examines the concept of public diplomacy as a Kenya’s strategy in pursuing peace in East Africa. It asks one basic question; why, despite the transformation of the international system, has Kenya not found it prudent to employ public diplomacy in its foreign policy and specifically in the pursuit of peace in a volatile East Africa sub-region? To answer this overarching question, the study employs two theories; the constructivist theory and the grand strategy theory. Both are relevant in exploring the objectives of Kenya’s foreign policy and the means by which these objectives are pursued. The research relies on desk top research and interviews with unstructured questionnaires to collect the relevant data which is then analyzed using basically qualitative methods such as content analysis and narration. The study observes that Kenya has continued rely on the principles and pillars of its foreign policy due to the challenges of employing public diplomacy in a sub-region that is not yet liberal enough. Indeed, in its peace efforts in East Africa, Kenya has over the years relied on traditional instruments of foreign policy such as traditional diplomacy entailing government-to-government engagements rather than a people focused approach. The study also finds out that Kenya’s leading role in the sub-region has been a function of its strong economy which has raised its level of soft power. Based on this, the study recommends that Kenya should rethink its peace diplomacy and attempt to employ public diplomacy as a strategy that is more appropriate in a liberal and globalizing world.