The Role of Sub-national Units of Government in International Relations. A Study of the County Governments of Makueni and Mombasa in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this research study is to analyse the role of county governments' participation in international affairs and how it relates to Kenya's foreign policy. This paper examines the motivations, challenges, and benefits of paradiplomatic initiatives undertaken by county administrations, with a specific concentration on the counties of Mombasa and Makueni as case studies. The conclusions gained from the research results regarding the intricacies of paradiplomacy in Kenya and its ramifications for the nation's foreign policy are of great significance. The findings indicate that county governments significantly contribute to Kenya's foreign policy goals through their ongoing involvement in endeavours including economic promotion, foreign direct investment attraction, conservation advocacy, and cultural exchange facilitation. These endeavours serve to an increasingly comprehensive and multidimensional perspective on foreign policy, thereby augmenting Kenya's international footprint. Nevertheless, the research also highlights obstacles such as the requirement for legal and regulatory structures, the risk of information that is inconsistent, and reservations regarding secession and autonomy. In addition to highlighting the significance of a synchronised national strategy for paradiplomacy, the inquiry finds that more investigation is required to improve the efficacy of county government engagement in diplomatic affairs and to rectify extant deficiencies in the legal framework.