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Integrity issues haunt Kenyan envoy nominee to Washington, DC

By Mwangi Maina | Monday, April 8, 2024

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan wondered why the nominee could not wait to dispense with the case before taking up the diplomatic assignment.

The Kenyan ambassadorial nominee to the USA, David Kiplagat Kerich, faced challenges in proving his suitability for the role while appearing before a parliamentary vetting committee on Monday morning.

Hardly had Kerich taken his oath before the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations committee when he learned that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had implicated him in integrity issues.

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"We have received a letter from EACC indicating you were under investigation and your file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP)," said the panel chair and Belgut MP, Nelson Koech.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan wondered why the nominee could not wait to dispense with the case before taking up the diplomatic assignment.

"Your image is already tarnished. Your integrity is being questioned. Is it not better for you to deal with your integrity issues first instead of taking that damaged image to Washington, DC?" posed Yusuf.

However, Kerich insisted on his innocence and brought the MPs up to speed with the developments of the case, which he argued was inactive.

"The constitution is the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. What we have for now are allegations. The issues being talked about centred around employment and were raised in 2021. I have never been summoned. There is no active case," said the nominee, who served as Baringo County Speaker prior to the 2022 General Election.

Envoy nominee to Washington, DC, David Kiplagat Kerich, ppearing before the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations committee on Monday, April 8, 2024: (Photo: Eastleigh Voice)

Envoy nominee to Washington, DC, David Kiplagat Kerich, appearing before the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations committee on Monday, April 8, 2024: (Photo: Eastleigh Voice)

Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku, nonetheless, recounted a previous incident where a former minister nominated for Austria was later recalled and convicted, labelling it as both a national and international embarrassment.

"Don't you think it is a small price to pay to let this position go to someone else other than you leaving for the US with integrity issues?" Kwenya asked, adding, "How will you (Kerich) feel being paraded as ambassador to Washington, DC with corruption cases?"

The nominee, who previously served as a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) legal officer, responded, "The issue of integrity doesn't come in respectfully. I have a clean record."

He argued he would "appear for summons if called and formally charged but there were no grounds to imagine such."

MP Yusuf further compounded Kerich’s case when he questioned his lack of diplomatic experience, pointing out that "the ambassador to Washington DC is one of the appointments any diplomat would want to get. It is where capitals send their most senior and best diplomats."

"I look at your CV and you're completely underwhelming. You have no diplomatic experience. You're not a diplomat yet you have been elevated to the peak of diplomatic posting. Do you have what it takes to represent Kenya in Washington, DC?" asked the Kamukunji legislator.

"It is true I have never been a diplomat but I have the knowledge and experience. I studied public international law at university. I am not that green in diplomacy. It is a matter of knowledge," the nominee answered.

"This is not a one-man show. Washington is led by a team of qualified Kenyans who work together. I will be there to offer guidance. I have the ability to learn and seek guidance and this will help me play the role of a Kenyan diplomat to the USA,” he added.