Kenya and the Indo-Pacific: The Rationale for an “Outlook” and Why Kenya (and East Africa) Matters
Brendon J. Cannon and Stephen Mogaka
This issue brief argues that Kenya should carefully consider promulgating an Indo-Pacific outlook given the seismic shifts in global distributions of power and the resulting great power rivalry. The future of the region hangs in the balance and East African states like Kenya are already battling the headwinds associated with great power competition. The political economy of external state actors’ recent involvement in Kenya and the region has added to the charged geopolitical situation with China competing with Japan, India, and others for political and economic influence. In this context, this brief analyzes Kenya’s role and place in the Indo-Pacific and outlines the risks and rewards of a Kenyan Indo-Pacific approach.
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