Recognition for Convenience! Kenya’s Foreign Policy towards South Africa under Moi’s Era (1978-1998)

During the 1970s, majority of states, including Kenya followed the practice of recognizing states and not governments. In so doing, they downplayed the granting of formal recognition to new governments. Kenya’s policy, then, was clearly stated in parliament in 1971 when the then foreign affairs minister, Dr. Njoroge Mungai, was asked to comment on the Kenya government’s position on the military regime of General Idi Amin of Uganda. He stated, “Kenya could not afford to interfere with internal matters of another state nor let any state interfere with internal matters of Kenya.” However, during the Post–Cold War period, Kenya’s recognition policy underwent major transformations to include recognition of de jure governments. This study critically examines Kenya’s recognition of South Africa government during and after the Cold War in a bid to reveal any distinct policy trends if any during Moi’s era. The study aims to ascertain how, Kenya’s recognition policy, has largely, been formulated, articulated and exercised during Moi’s administration (1978-1998). The central question of this study is this: What recognition trends emerged towards South African government under Moi’s administration (1978-1990)?