Somalilandsun: In the enhanced relations between Kenya and Somaliland Nairobi has elevated its diplomatic mission in Hargeisa to full Consulate General Status.
This was revealed last Friday, when president Uhuru Kenya appointed twenty-four (24) new ambassadors and High Commissioners to lead Kenyan missions abroad.
Among the appointees are four diplomats who will represent Kenya in various countries as Consul-Generals.
By definition, a consul general is an official who heads a consulate general and is a consul of the highest rank serving at a particular location.
Former State House Deputy Director for events Thomas Kwaka alias Big Ted will represent the Kenyan Consulate in Los Angeles, USA, former MP Dennis Waweru to serve at the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) consulate in the Eastern capital Goma, Dennis Mburu- Tanzania, and Benson Mwaliko- Hargesia, Somaliland.
The appointments by Kenyatta comes just some 109 days before he exits government as the Head of State.
The now elevated Kenyan Mission in Hargeisa was officially Launched in September 2021 as a liaison office with Benson Mwaliko as its Head
This upgrading of the mission is in fulfilment of agreements entered between Somaliland President Muse Bihi and Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi on the 15th December 2020.
Among poignant implementation points of the Nairobi accord was the establishment of a Kenya mission in Hargeisa and the elevation of the then Somaliland trade office to full Consulate General Status.
Though the Mwaliko led mission in Hargeisa has been working low profile it is expected that the new full consulate general status will spur full diplomatic services for both the thousands of Kenyans in Somaliland and locals with diverse interests in the giant East African Nation.
The actualization of Kenya’s diplomatic presence in Somaliland comes with a huge relief from many stakeholders who have been in years relentless pursuit in the two capitals of Nairobi and Hargeisa. More HERE
In the joint Bihi-Kenyatta Communique the two heads of states agreed to the following points as launching pad for enhance bilateral relations in various sectors. Namely
The 2020 visit to Nairobi by president Bihi on official invitation by his Kenyan counterpart together with the establishment of relations with Taiwan remains the biggest diplomatic coup by autnorites of the yet to international recognized Somaliland.
The official invitation came via an August 2020 high powered delegation from Nairobi led by MP Junet Mohamed that included a number of MPs as well as a notable presence of two heavyweights – George Muhoho (uncle to President Kenyatta) and his daughter Anne Nyokabi.
At the meeting with President Bihi in Nairobi the Kenyans informed of their President’s Frustrations with his Somalia counterpart Farmajo who was then embroiled in constant disputes with the neighbouring country.
While Farmajo had a lot of bones to crunch with the Kenyans the final straw was Bihi’s visit and subsequent Nairobi accords.
Immediately the joint Communique was released an Irate President Farmajo who continously ascribes to Somaliland as a regional state of his wartorn country severed all diplomatic ties with Kenya.
But now that Kenyatta is completing his term of office and Farmajo is faced with a very arduous re-election process the Kenyan Consulate General is bound to operate normally and in the open
