New Attachés Graduate from the Foreign Service Academy
The Foreign Service Academy has held a closing ceremony to confer certificates upon participants of the Pre-Departure Training Programme for newly appointed Trade, Commercial, Immigration and Education Attachés, marking their readiness for deployment to Kenya’s foreign missions.
The training programme aims to enhance the attachés’ diplomatic, technical and representational competencies, with a strong emphasis on commercial and economic diplomacy. It equips them with the skills necessary to advance Kenya’s trade, investment and development priorities abroad, while strengthening service delivery within their respective portfolios.
The ceremony was officiated by the Chair of the Council of the Foreign Service Academy, Prof. Patrick Maluki, alongside the Acting Director-General, Amb. Patrick Wamoto. In his address, Amb. Wamoto underscored the importance of professionalism, adherence to national interest and effective service delivery, highlighting the pivotal role attachés play in promoting commercial diplomacy through trade facilitation, investment promotion and support for Kenyan enterprises in foreign markets.
Prof. Maluki emphasised the centrality of diplomacy in safeguarding national interests, describing it as the first line of defence of any nation. He urged the graduates to anchor their service on patriotism, noting that the wellbeing of over 55 million Kenyans depends on how effectively the country is represented and defended internationally.
He further challenged the attachés to embrace a selfless spirit of public service, encouraging them to prioritise national interest above personal gain. Prof. Maluki observed that the survival and prosperity of the State are closely tied to the effectiveness of its diplomats, particularly in protecting national interests and expanding economic opportunities.
The graduates were encouraged to put Kenya first in all their engagements, collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders to advance commercial diplomacy, and strengthen Kenya’s voice, visibility and influence in their host countries, in alignment with the Government’s foreign policy objectives and economic transformation agenda.