Among the targets are the 24 diplomats Uhuru Kenyatta appointed in April this year, just 4 months before the August polls. President Ruto and his allies are now lobbying to have the appointment of the 24 diplomats revoked as they were done just 100 days before elections to reward the former president’s allies days before he left office
With the positions of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries gone, several Kenya Kwanza politicians have now set their eyes on President William Ruto’s looming appointment of High Commissioner, Ambassador, Diplomatic or Consular Representatives.
Unlike the appointment of Chief Executive Officers of state corporations whose contracts cannot be revoked, the Foreign Affairs Service Act gives the president powers to terminate the contracts of any diplomat, be they High Commissioner or Ambassador. The Act also states that the appointment of a high commissioner, ambassador, a diplomatic or consular representative shall serve for a term of four years.
It is against the above background that President Ruto’s allies are said to be pushing him to revoke the appointments of some diplomats perceived to be close to Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta and replace them with his men and women who stood and campaigned for him and even financed his Presidential bid.
Other envoys include Amb Gathoga Chege to Cuba, Mary Mogwanja- Austria, Paul Ndung’u-Mozambique, Michael Sialai-Namibia, Amb Nyambura Kamau- Pakistan, Major Gen (Rtd) Thomas Cheptuko- Somalia, Isaac Njenga- Tanzania, and Major Gen (Rtd) George Owinow- Uganda
Among the targets are the 24 diplomats Uhuru Kenyatta appointed in April this year, just 4 months before the August polls. President Ruto and his allies are now lobbying to have the appointment of the 24 diplomats revoked as they were done just 100 days before elections to reward the former president’s allies days before he left office.
Among the controversial appointments is that of the former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr Caroline Karugu who was appointed Ambassador to Denmark. Also targeted is former ICT Permanent Secretary during President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure (now known as Principal Secretary) Bitange Ndemo who was appointed ambassador to Belgium.
Other envoys include Amb Gathoga Chege to Cuba, Mary Mogwanja- Austria, Paul Ndung’u-Mozambique, Michael Sialai-Namibia, Amb Nyambura Kamau- Pakistan, Major Gen (Rtd) Thomas Cheptuko- Somalia, Isaac Njenga- Tanzania, and Major Gen (Rtd) George Owinow- Uganda.
Uhuru Kenyatta also appointed six new deputy Heads of Mission and four officials to Consul-Generals. Harriet Nduma as the deputy ambassador to Brussels, Edwin Afande-Deputy Head of Mission to China, George Kwanya- Ethiopia, Dennis Makobu- Belgium, Jane Githinji- Russia, and Sammy Ngumbao- Tokyo. Four officials were picked to represent Kenya in various States as Consul-Generals.
It is not known if President Ruto will bow to pressure to revoke the appointments or allow them to serve their full term until 2026.
