The National Assembly has approved the appointment of four individuals to diplomatic offices, sparking debate on the importance of merit and preparedness for such roles. The appointees include Dr Andrew Karanja as the Ambassador to Brazil, Ababu Namwamba as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Office in Nairobi, and Noor Yarow Gabow as the Consul-General in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
While moving the motion, Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee Chair Nelson Koech (Belgut) called for enhanced due diligence from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the Chief of Staff to ensure appointees are both consulted and committed to serving.
“Having conducted the approval hearings pursuant to Article 132 (2)(e) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, the committee recommends that the House approves the three nominees,” said Koech.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed (Suna East) emphasized the need for merit-based appointments, cautioning against the casual distribution of diplomatic positions. He described the roles as requiring “special skills” and noted that such appointments should reflect the seriousness of the responsibilities involved.
“This is a job that requires special skills. What skill could one acquire in two weeks that makes them fit to handle this role? This process must be taken seriously,” said Junet. He also described the appointments as a “second chance” for some nominees to redeem their performance after previous shortcomings.
Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli highlighted the importance of language proficiency for diplomats, pointing out that Western nations require ambassadors to be fluent in the language of their host country.
“I find it strange that we appoint ambassadors to Portuguese or French-speaking countries who cannot speak the local language. This must change,” said Sunkuli.
However, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari defended Dr Karanja, citing his academic credentials, including a PhD, as evidence of his suitability for the role of Ambassador to Brazil. “He holds a PhD and is very fluent in English. The only issue was that he couldn’t communicate in Portuguese,” Wangari argued.
Junet Mohammed countered this, stating that academic qualifications alone do not guarantee effective communication or proficiency in English, which he said is critical for diplomatic roles.
“Having a PhD doesn’t mean you know English. The other day, there was a university in Eldoret awarding honorary degrees. How can you confirm those people can speak English?” quipped Junet. The approved nominees now await formal appointments by the president before assuming their respective diplomatic duties.
