Mudavadi Condemns MPs’ Attempted Taiwan Visit During Ruto's China Trip as Reckless and Unpatriotic

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called out as "reckless and malicious" an attempt by a group of Members of Parliament to travel to Taiwan at the same time President William Ruto was on a state visit to China. Speaking before the Senate Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, Mudavadi said the move appeared designed to sabotage the government’s diplomatic efforts with Beijing and labeled it both unpatriotic and provocative.

“We know there were some people who were pushing to have a delegation from Parliament to go to Taiwan when the President of Kenya is visiting China for a State visit. It could have cost the country a lot,” Mudavadi said.

He stressed the importance of elected leaders being fully aware of how their actions can have serious diplomatic and economic consequences. The trip, he warned, could have jeopardized Kenya’s relationship with China at a time when major bilateral deals were being negotiated.

During his China visit, President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s support for the One-China policy and advocated for diplomatic solutions in global conflicts, including the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine situations. He announced that Kenya had secured commitments that could reshape its economic landscape — including the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Malaba on the Ugandan border and a dual carriageway to the same location. These developments are expected to drive growth in Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western regions.

“There were some who did not want the government to achieve anything in the visit. But today, once the agreed projects are in place, we will have major infrastructure that boosts economic development,” added Mudavadi.

He urged lawmakers to demonstrate patriotism and set a positive example, especially for the youth, instead of engaging in divisive actions.

Turning to foreign policy, Mudavadi also addressed Kenya’s strategy for improving its overseas assets. He revealed plans for investment in embassy infrastructure through both the national exchequer and public-private partnerships. As an example, he cited a 22-story building under construction in Nairobi’s Upper Hill by Tanzania’s pension fund — a facility that will serve both as their embassy and a commercial property generating revenue for their government.

Mudavadi highlighted similar foreign investments by neighboring countries like Uganda, which owns high-value properties in New York near the UN headquarters, London’s Trafalgar Square, and Nairobi’s city center. Kenya, he said, intends to follow suit by maximizing returns from its diplomatic properties to fund stronger and more self-sufficient missions abroad.

“We have a plan to be able to start making serious investment proposals for the assets that we have so that we can maximize the returns and support our missions more robustly in the future,” he concluded.

Photo: KBC