An analysis of the impact of Foreign Policy on Economic Development in Kenya (2013 – 2018)

Abstract

One of the key goals of a state's foreign policy is economic advancement aimed at promoting national development. However, despite economic development being a major objective of foreign policy, many African states lack clear foreign policy frameworks to guide and advance their economic interests within the global system. This study examined Kenya's foreign policy to establish the relationship between foreign policy and economic development and to generate knowledge that can inform policymakers and academics in developing purposeful and effective foreign policies for proactive engagement in the 21st-century globalised world.

Using a mixed-methods research design, the study found a strong relationship between foreign policy and economic development in Kenya. The existence of a written foreign policy document has provided a reference framework for ensuring that the country's foreign policy objectives remain aligned with its development priorities. Furthermore, Kenya's engagement in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy has had a significant positive influence on its economic development. The study concludes that, although Kenya's foreign policy is well articulated, its contribution to economic development could be strengthened through increased funding, enhanced public-private partnerships, and greater attention to the diaspora function