From Dialogue to Partnership: The High Commissioner’s Week at the Court of St James’s
Ambassador Makoloo Maurice discusses Kenya–UK partnership, multilateralism, climate action with UK counterparts
February 09th, 2026
It was another intensive and highly productive week at the Court of St James’s, conducted with characteristic Kenyan dynamism. The engagements reflected a sustained focus on advancing Kenya’s diplomatic priorities through dialogue, partnership, and coordinated multilateral action.
In strengthening multilateralism, High Commissioner Amb. Makoloo Maurice paid a courtesy call on the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, reaffirming Kenya’s unwavering commitment to the Commonwealth’s transformative vision. Discussions emphasized collective action, inclusivity, and the need to sustain trust in multilateral institutions such as the Commonwealth to ensure the delivery of tangible socio-economic benefits. In parallel, the High Commissioner consulted with Ms. Kate Foster, Africa Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Ms. Vicky Seymour, Head of the East Africa Department, focusing on concrete steps to implement the newly agreed Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership and to maintain the positive momentum achieved over the past year.
On climate action, Amb. Makoloo joined a select group of Heads of Mission convened by the FCDO’s Special Representative for Climate to reflect on outcomes from COP30 in Brazil and to explore pathways for accelerating progress toward COP31, scheduled to take place in Türkiye later this year. He reiterated Kenya’s continued global leadership on climate action, including the urgent implementation of the African Leaders’ Nairobi Declaration adopted at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in 2023, and underscored the critical importance of youth inclusion in global climate discussions.
The High Commissioner also engaged in collective African diplomacy and global narrative shaping. He attended the periodic plenary meeting of African Ambassadors accredited to the Court of St James’s, convened by the Dean of the Africa Group, to deliberate on shared priorities and advance coordinated African positions. Additionally, he met with Ms. Tighisti Amare, Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, where both highlighted the urgency of presenting Africa’s full and authentic story, emphasizing African agency in international affairs and the central role of youth voices in co-creating sustainable global solutions.
In conclusion, the week’s engagements reinforced Kenya’s commitment to principled multilateralism, effective bilateral partnership, climate leadership, and a unified African voice, underscoring a clear transition from dialogue to tangible, forward-looking cooperation.
