Kenya’s Fifty Years of Early Diplomatic Engagement – From Kenyatta to Kenyatta is a collection of academic essays and recollections by Kenyan diplomats tracing Kenya’s diplomacy from independence in 1963 to 2013.

The first part of this historical narrative is told by luminaire of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This includes the very early recruits who joined the Ministry in 1964 such as Denis Afande, Inder Jeet Singh Bhoi and Leonard Kibinge. After them, the narrative is taken up by later-day diplomats like Bethwel Kiplagat and Francis Muthaura. To give an academic perspective to Kenya’s diplomacy, academics like Macharia Munene and Peter Kurgat and Philip Mwanzia to contextualize the story of Kenya before, during and after the cold war period. The editor has also dug into selected biographies to profile other key figures who practiced Kenyan diplomacy.

Interestingly, the story of the nation’s struggle to find a place in the complex diplomatic world can, at times, read like a thriller novel. For example, the stories of Bethwell Kiplagat traversing the jungles of Mozambique as he sought peace for that country are full of suspense, surprise and excitement. Likewise, the descriptions of the methods Kenyan used to win the bid to host the most important UN agency in Nairobi is amazing to say the least.

This is an important book; a record of the past that will be cherished by future generations and by friends of Kenya near and far.