Members of the National Assembly challenged all the six nominees fronted by President Uhuru Kenyatta to decline their nominations due to their advanced ages.
Spread out through vetting in the week of Monday, October 26, the lawmakers challenged the nominees to reject the ambassadorial jobs for other qualified young people.
It was revealed that some of the nominees had been recalled from retirement. Five of them were aged 60 years and the other was 49 years old.
A report by The Standard indicated that the nominees were subjected to vetting riddled with heated exchanges carried out by members of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee.
In one instance, Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima asked one of the candidates to reject the position in favour of young, qualified and unemployed youth.
“You are 60 years old. There are people who have completed school and are looking for jobs. What makes you think you are suitable for this appointment yet there are young people who want jobs.
"Don’t you think you should decline this nomination in favour of a younger person?” questioned the MP.
Ngewa Mukala, who was nominated for ambassadorial post in Khartoum, North Sudan, gave a straight pointed question explaining that it would be rude for him to decline a nomination by the Head of State.
“It is true I’m 60. But I’m retired not tired. Being in the military, it is indiscipline to say no when the Head of State gives you an appointment. It is the highest level of indiscipline and I’m not going to do it," he answered.
Another nominee, Jean Kimani (UN-Habitat), had retired and was enjoying her quiet life when the appointment came.
Benson Ogutu, who was nominated for Moscow in Russia, however, argued that experience could only manifest itself well in old age.
“I noticed that you should have retired. A man with such a good pension and rent income, why couldn’t you have left this position to a younger person,” questioned a lawmaker.
“Experience cannot be gained when young. It can only be gained when old. I believe the experience I have will be key in advancing the country’s interests in Russia,” answered Ogutu.
Other nominees included Samuel Nandwa (Juba, South Sudan), Catherine Mwangi (Pretoria, South Africa) and Martin Kimani (United Nations, New York).
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