Ruto’s top diplomat in Geneva under fire over Sh2.5 million housing lease

Kenya's mission in Geneva, a city better known for quiet diplomacy than domestic squabbles, is now grappling with a crisis of its own.

At the heart of the dispute is Fancy Too, President William Ruto's top envoy to the multilateral hub, who has allegedly signed a lease for an official residence costing 16,000 Swiss francs (Sh2.5 million)—4,000 francs above the 12,000-franc (Sh1.9 million) ceiling set by Nairobi.

"This isn't just about one apartment," a senior ministry official familiar with the matter noted.

"It's about how such decisions affect morale, compliance, and Kenya's credibility in an important diplomatic hub."

A confidential memo dated July 11, 2024, from Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei to all 68 Kenyan missions abroad underscores the sensitivity of the issue.

It warned that, amid "budget cuts and austerity measures," housing allowances must remain within approved limits, including a cap of 12,960 Swiss francs (roughly Sh2 million) for the head of mission in Geneva, while the deputy's housing is set at 8,640 francs.

The memo, which also outlined similar cost-control measures for new posts in Abidjan and Jeddah, stressed that "programmes must be accommodated within the available resource envelope."

Despite this, Too, a political appointee who assumed her role earlier this year, reportedly committed to a lease worth 16,000 Swiss francs (around Sh2.5 million).

The decision has caused friction within the mission, particularly with her deputy, James Waweru, and other staff who sit on the mission's budget committee, many of whom are said to be uneasy with the optics of defying Nairobi's fiscal instructions.

Repeated attempts by this outlet to reach Too went unanswered. PS Sing'oei has also not commented, despite inquiries from this outlet.

Insiders reported on Tuesday of a closed-door meeting between Korir and the ambassador, who is currently on leave in Nairobi.

The Geneva rift, however, is not an isolated case.

Sources at the Foreign Office say it has become increasingly common for heads of mission and their deputies to clash, often undermining Kenya's ability to project a united diplomatic front.

They argue similar developments have played out in prime missions including Paris, Moscow, The Hague, Berlin, London, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Pretoria.

Insiders point to two recent precedents: the redeployment of Kenya's deputy head of mission in Ottawa to Kinshasa and a similar transfer from Berlin to Vienna, both following sustained clashes with their respective ambassadors.

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For now, the Geneva dispute has not yet escalated into a full-blown scandal.

But it has reignited uncomfortable questions about oversight within Kenya's foreign service, which is already operating under tight budgetary constraints to prevent such distractions.

Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities, is a pivotal platform for Kenya's engagement with over 40 international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and  International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Any prolonged disruption at the mission risks weakening Nairobi's ability to project efficiency and discipline abroad.

If nothing else, this episode is a reminder that in diplomacy, the battle for influence is sometimes won, or lost, not in boardrooms, but in living rooms.