Ruto's 25 out of 27 diplomatic nominees get MPs' approval

Kenyan Parliament on Wednesday afternoon approved 25 out of 27 individuals nominated in March by President William Ruto for ambassador, high commissioner and consul general roles.

Charles Githinji Keiru, the nominee for Consul General to Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was rejected for lack of requisite qualities, knowledge, abilities, and experience.

"The nominee demonstrated a considerable lack of knowledge of the expected duties of a consul general and the station to which he had been nominated to serve," said Belgut MP Nelson Koech during the tabling of the motion.

Former West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi declined his nomination as the country's High Commissioner to Ghana and did not appear for confirmation hearings.

The motion to approve the names was moved by the National Assembly's Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Nelson Koech, following the conclusion of the vetting process.

In its report, Koech stated that they received notices from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) flagging three of the 27 ambassadorial nominees for outstanding integrity concerns.

The anti-corruption body raised integrity issues about former Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi, nominated for the high commissioner position in Kampala, Uganda, and former Turkana County Assembly speaker Ekitela Erastus Lokaale, nominated for the Permanent Representative role at the UN in New York.

Former Baringo speaker David Kiplagat Kerich, who was interviewed for the ambassadorial position in Washington, DC, was also flagged.

"We must attach a lot of significance to the people that we send to our missions abroad. If you watched the American ambassador to Kenya during her pitch to Silicon Valley, you will understand that the ambassador is the face of the country, and in such, we need such people who will articulate Kenya's interests abroad," Koech said.

Consul Generals vetting

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, in support of the motion, endorsed the recommendation that all Consul Generals posted abroad without vetting should be recalled immediately for parliamentary scrutiny.

Previously, Consul Generals were posted abroad without vetting.

He also supported the rejection of Keiru, who showed a lack of grasp on the station he was nominated for.

"Goma is not a small station. It is a very important station in our region and the EAC. The person we should send to represent the people of Kenya must be somebody whose competency shouldn't be questionable," said Kimani.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo argued that diplomatic appointments are crucial because they determine individuals who will represent their country's interests and should be taken seriously.

"Diplomatic appointments are very crucial. They are the face of Kenya out there," he said while supporting the report.

He expressed concerns about a tribal imbalance in the list of nominees issued by President Ruto in March.

Those approved are: Catherine Kirumba Karemu- London, Joash Maangi- Kampala, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jonah Mwangi- Iran, Caroline Kamende Daudi- Canada, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Peter Mbogo Njiru- Pakistan, Fred Outa- Egypt, Prof. Anne Kisaka- Senegal, Timothy Kaluma Mcharo-Algeria, Christopher Andrew Lang'at- Ivory Coast, Jessica Muthoni Gakinya-Morocco, Halima Yussuf Mucheke-The Hague, David Kerich, Washington, DC, Everylyne Mwenda Karisa-Cuba, Dr. Peter Mathuki- Russia, Kenneth Milimo Ngnaga-Abud Dhabi and Abdi Aden Korio- Oman.

Others are Gertrude Angote-UNEP, Nairobi, Grace Atieno Okara-UN Habitat, Nairobi, Dr. Fancy Too- Geneva, Ekitela Erastus Lookale- UN New York, and Moi Lemoshira-Japan.

Aden Mohamud Mohamed has been approved for appointment as Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while David Iboko Lokemer and Ezra Chiloba were approved for Dubai, UAE, and Los Angeles, USA, respectively.