Gender,Diplomacy And Foreign Policy:A Case Of Women Diplomats In Kenya's Foreign Service,1964-2020

The existing literature on the nexus between gender,diplomacy,foreign policy and Foreign Service appointments suffers from inadequacy by focusing on advanced western economies,putting Africa in the periphery.The scholarship has provided a macro-level generalized analysis of women in diplomacy,politics and Foreign Service,and failed to comprehensively analyze the appointments of women to senior diplomatic ranks and their influence on foreign policy.This study is a political and historical examination of the role of Kenyan women diplomats in Kenya's foreign policy(diplomacy).It is a response to the gap in scholarly discourse for further analytic work on the impact of women in senior foreign policy establishments in Africa's foreign services.Through the use of qualitative method using primary and secondary sources of data,the study explored from a gendered dimension,whether the progressive appointment of women to senior foreign and diplomatic service positions for the period between 1964 to 2020,has significantly influenced or shaped Kenya's diplomacy and foreign policy.It sought to determine if a correlation exists between the progressive appointments and significant contribution by shedding light on the question:How has the progressive appointment of women to senior foreign and diplomatic service positions from 1964 to 2020 significantly influenced Kenya's diplomacy and foreign policy?The findings revealed that the progressive appointments of women to senior foreign and diplomatic service positions from 1964 to 2020 and particularly from 2002-2020 under Presidents Kibaki and Uhuru administrations have to some extent,significantly influenced Kenya's foreign policy,but varied in context.Female diplomatic appointments compared with male diplomats have added diversity and soft touch to Kenyar's foreign policy through amplified focus on broader areas in environment,humanitarian,youth and women's concerns among others.The findings have critical implications for debates over the effects of greater participation of women in diplomacy.Additionally,the findings are inclined to stimulate policy re-orientation towards gender mainstreaming in Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and inform legislation to enhance women empowerment in foreign policy decision making as an effective instrument in elevating Kenya's global presence.