Saturday 05th September, 2026 12:16 PM|
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has defended Kenya’s diplomatic mission in Rabat, Morocco, dismissing claims that the embassy is struggling to function and insisting it is fully staffed and delivering tangible diplomatic gains despite a parliamentary report highlighting staffing gaps, language barriers and financial constraints.
Sing’Oei’s response comes after a report tabled in the National Assembly claimed the two-year-old mission was operating without a dedicated translator, a defence attaché, a foreign relations officer and a clerk, while also grappling with pending bills of about KSh23 million.
Responding to the criticism on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Sing’Oei argued that the embassy’s growing diplomatic achievements demonstrated that Kenya’s engagement with Morocco had remained effective.
“Our Mission in Rabat is fully staffed and equipped to advance Kenya’s strategic interests in Morocco and the Northern Africa region generally,” Sing’Oei said.
He added that since the mission’s establishment two years ago, Kenya and Morocco had rapidly expanded their bilateral cooperation.
“These engagements have culminated in 11 signed cooperation instruments covering agriculture, education, fisheries, justice, and security among others,” he said.
The PS also revealed that discussions were underway to strengthen bilateral air services cooperation, including the possible resumption of direct flights between Nairobi and Rabat.
“How could all these happen if we were not communicating effectively?” he posed.
Parliament raised concerns over embassy operations
Sing’Oei’s remarks directly respond to concerns raised by the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee following a fact-finding mission to Rabat.
According to the committee’s report, the embassy currently has six home-based staff and eight locally engaged officers but remains without several critical positions, including a translator despite Morocco conducting much of its official business in Arabic and French.
The report warned that the shortage had forced existing officers to perform multiple roles, placing significant strain on the mission’s operations.
It also highlighted communication challenges arising from the absence of a dedicated translator, saying staff with only basic language proficiency had been handling complex diplomatic engagements and official documentation.
Ksh23 million pending bills
Beyond staffing, MPs also raised concerns about the embassy’s financial position.
The report said the Rabat mission had accumulated approximately Ksh23 million in pending bills, including obligations related to rent, staff welfare, medical expenses and operational costs.
Parliamentary investigators further noted that annual rent for the chancery and staff residences is estimated at around Ksh50 million, while budget allocations had repeatedly fallen short of actual requirements.
In some instances, the report claimed officers had been compelled to meet essential expenses from their own resources to keep operations running.
Why Rabat matters to Kenya
Kenya officially operationalised its Rabat mission in January 2024, making it one of the country’s newest diplomatic missions as Nairobi expanded its presence into North Africa and the Maghreb.
Morocco has become an increasingly important partner for Kenya in trade, security cooperation, agriculture and education, while also offering approximately 20 scholarships annually to Kenyan students in fields including medicine, engineering and law.
The embassy has also been central to Kenya’s efforts to deepen economic diplomacy in North Africa, including promoting trade and exploring improved air connectivity between the two countries.
Debate over capacity continues
While Parliament has urged the government to fill vacant positions, increase funding and strengthen the embassy’s operational capacity, Sing’Oei’s latest remarks suggest the Foreign Affairs Ministry believes the mission is already effectively advancing Kenya’s interests.
The contrasting positions now place the spotlight on whether the Rabat embassy’s documented staffing and funding challenges are limiting its potential, or whether, as Sing’Oei argues, its expanding diplomatic achievements demonstrate that the mission is functioning effectively despite those constraints.
