The impact of infectious diseases is a real global phenomenon in the 21 st century buoyed by the accelerated pace of globalization which seem to dissolve the distinctions between; many domestic and foreign issues, regions and multinational actors, and even friendly and hostile states. The impact of infectious diseases on Kenya's health diplomacy calls for need to enhance public health partnerships to tackle such issues of international concern to effectively handle such diplomacy matters and timely. The study used qualitative study methodology by describing the context of Kenya's health diplomacy and employing available documents analysis. The study concluded that controlling emerging and reemerging infectious diseases require extreme actions and coordination between many national and international actors which Kenya and her international network of states must do through diplomacy.However, the decision on which health issues should be given priority on the foreign policy and diplomacy agenda contribute to overall improvement in diplomatic relations, which may enhance inter-state relations. ENVISAGED PROBLEM IN HEALTH DIPLOMACYThe latest decades of contemporary international relations is characterized by many dilemmas from security to economics and health. Though health has been peripherally situated from mainstream issues in Diplomacy, it has in fact featured prominently in inter and intra state politics to affect how states relate, transact with one another, and perceive each other in the Neoliberalist and Realist world. Some states have established positive steps in their health diplomacy to show their seriousness to this issue hence easier to measure impact of infectious diseases on their diplomacy. On the other hand, it is not clear what the impact of infectious diseases is on Kenya's diplomacy. It is this gap that propels the study to examine the existing state of affairs. METHODOLOGY EMPLOYEDThis study set off to use qualitative study methodology involving describing the context of Kenya's health diplomacy in relation to impact of infectious diseases and the existing practice of health diplomacy operational application. Available documents were also analyzed.

In Kenya, thousands of households rely on sand harvesting as their main source of livelihood. Sand harvesting is common in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid areas, but left uncontrolled it depletes water catchment areas, and thus, the need to promote sustainability by striking a balance between it and environmental conservation. This paper illustrates how sand harvesting is affecting the environment in West Pokot County. Findings indicate that sand scooping reduces surface water quality and quantity 251(61%), leads to river bed degradation 311(87.4%), sand harvesting increases erosional valleys 308(86.6%), there is contamination of water and scarcity of water due to sand harvesting 289(81.1%), sand harvesting affects the flow of the river downstream 280(78.7%), reduces land for farming 145(40.7%), storage of sand causes destruction of vegetation cover 214(60%) and destruction of the forest cover 206(48%). The paper concludes that sand harvesting is accompanied by disastrous environmental effects, which raises questions on the cost-benefits and sustainability of the sand harvesting activities in the study area. Consequently, the paper recommends for measures to be put in place to surmount the hazardous environmental effects and enhance the multiplier effects of sand harvesting on livelihood security.

Across the world, refugee hosting has been associated with costs and benefits to the hosting nations. However, in Kenya, hosting Somali refugees is majorly considered costly rather than beneficial to the nation. The county’s high insecurity is one of the major effects that Somali refugees are associated with. No objective research has indicated the specific benefits of Somali refugees in Kenya. Using mixed research method, this study focused on establishing the costs and benefits of Somali refugees. The findings show that Somali refugees pose positive and negative effects on the Kenyan state. These effects are economic, social, and environmental. The study recommends policy implementation and technological adoption strategies as ways of enhancing Somali refugee contribution to Kenya’s socio-economic development.