The Nature and Scope of Kenya’s Digital Diplomatic Communication within the Eastern African Region, 2013- 2025

Abstract

This research focused on the nature and scope of Kenya’s digital diplomatic communication within the Eastern African Region between 2013 and 2024. Kenya’s digital diplomacy and diplomatic communication in the Eastern Africa region for the period between 2013 and 2024. The researcher investigated the aspect of Kenya’s digitized diplomatic communication. To aid in the study the researcher investigated the following objectives, how the integration of digital technologies reconfigured Kenya’s diplomatic communication in the region, challenges occasioned by the relatively new practice. The researcher deployed two complementary theories to aid the study. These are the actor specific grounded theory and the soft power theory. The study adopted an exploratory research design, and used qualitative data collection techniques, interviews and questionnaires for quantitative data. The study was conducted within Kenya, with the target population being staff at the ministry of foreign and diaspora affairs, missions in the region and other key experts in digital diplomacy. The sampling technique deployed was purposive and was aimed at a specific set of participants for the purpose collecting nuanced data related to the study topic. The study findings revealed that digital diplomatic communication in the region is influenced Kenya’s digital diplomacy efforts. Despite Kenya’s progress the conduct of digital diplomacy is hampered by challenges ranging from institutional gaps to a framework that is evolving but not adequate on the face of a dynamic digital technology environment. The study concludes by suggesting various recommendations that can help improve the conduct of digital diplomacy by Kenya in the Eastern Africa region.