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Ruto's envoy nominee to Ghana turns down offer

A file picture of former West Mugirango legislator Vincent Mogaka Kemosi.

By Mwangi Maina | Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Vincent Mogaka Kemosi, a former West Mugirango legislator, was notably absent during the vetting on Tuesday.

Vincent Mogaka Kemosi, the Kenyan nominee for the high commissioner role in Ghana, has turned down the offer, citing "compelling family issues."

Kemosi, a former West Mugirango legislator, was notably absent during the vetting on Tuesday and sent a notice of his decision to the clerk of the National Assembly.

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Committee chair, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, read the letter to the members and the media before adjourning the session.

Ambassador nominee to Ghana, Vincent Mogaka Kemosi, declines his appointment citing family issues according to the letter read by the chair of the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee pic.twitter.com/uchZ1Z8wvm
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) April 9, 2024

Mogaka cited family issues but analysts suggest that the politician, who narrowly missed the West Mugirango seat in 2022, remains actively involved in local politics and is strategising for a potential comeback in 2027.

It also seems that Mogaka, a diplomatic neophyte, was taken by surprise when offered the diplomatic role, given his lack of prior experience in the field.

It's uncommon for individuals in Kenya, particularly politicians, to turn down such appointments, and there are only two known cases where nominees rejected the offers.

Former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Hussein Mohamed declined an appointment as the ambassador to Seoul, South Korea, in 2018.

Like Mogaka, a source said, Abdikadir was not informed of his nomination by the appointing authority, whom he had previously served as an advisor.

Both individuals declined their assignments because they felt the duty stations assigned to them were not of the expected status, as Accra and Seoul were not considered prestigious diplomatic postings.