Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has clarified President William Ruto’s nomination of Consul General Judy Kiaria Nkumiri to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after concerns were raised that the appointment did not follow due process.
In a statement on Monday, August 18, Mudavadi explained that a presidential nomination does not in itself amount to a diplomatic posting, noting that Kiaria cannot assume office until both Parliament and the DRC government give their approval.
He emphasised that the appointment process will strictly follow Article 132(2)(e) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate and, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and diplomatic and consular representatives.
To further clear the air, Mudavadi revealed that he had already spoken with DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to explain the process.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and the Francophone of the Democratic Republic of Congo promptly and formally expressed concerns about Kenya’s nomination of a Consul-General of Goma, citing, among other issues, the absence of prior consultations,” Mudavadi stated.
“In line with the Constitution of Kenya, diplomatic practice and protocol, once the nominee receives parliamentary approval, Kenya shall formally request Agrément or acceptance by the applicable host states, including the DRC, before diplomatic posting,” he added.
Acknowledging the healthy relationship the two countries have shared over the years, Musalia assured that the foreign service realignment was aimed at enhancing service delivery under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and was not driven by adverse geopolitics or interference in other countries’ sovereignty.
Furthermore, Musalia assured that the government would be at the vanguard in championing peace initiatives in the DRC, especially through the EAC-SADC-AU initiative, where Kenya serves as the co-chair.
“May I reiterate our commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. Kenya and DRC are strategic partners in several areas, including trade, regional economic integration, and security,” Mudavadi said.
“The breadth of opportunities and the shared strategic interests between our two nations continue to drive our shared prosperity and lasting partnership for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” he added.
The announcement by Mudavadi comes days after President William Ruto unveiled a fresh shake-up in Kenya’s Foreign Service, naming new ambassadors, high commissioners, consuls-general, and deputy heads of mission in different countries.
In a statement on Friday, August 15, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed noted that the nominations are meant to boost diplomatic performance and service delivery.
"In an Executive Action carried out today, the President has realigned the nation's Foreign Service to optimise performance and enhance service delivery, as outlined in the Administration’s Manifesto under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," part of the statement reads.
