President William Ruto’s nomination of Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Kenya’s Consul General to Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has sparked sharp criticism from the Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE), who argue that the move risks legitimising what they describe as an ongoing illegal occupation.
In a strongly worded statement, the group condemned the appointment, warning that Kenya’s decision could be interpreted as tacit recognition of contested territorial control in the troubled eastern DRC. FICE insisted that any diplomatic engagement in the region must not be used to normalise instability or undermine the sovereignty of the Congolese state.
“The establishment of a Consulate General in Goma at this time sends the wrong message. It risks validating an illegal occupation and compromises the principles of international law and territorial integrity,” the scholars argued.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in the Great Lakes region, where Goma has remained a hotspot due to ongoing armed conflicts involving rebel groups and regional power struggles. Critics now fear that Kenya’s diplomatic footprint in the city could unintentionally align with the interests of actors accused of fuelling insecurity.
While the Kenyan government has framed the nomination as part of its broader strategy to strengthen bilateral relations and expand trade with the DRC, FICE maintains that such moves must not ignore the political sensitivities on the ground.
The debate is expected to pile pressure on Nairobi to clarify its stance, as observers warn that missteps in Congo could strain Kenya’s diplomatic image in the wider region.
