President Uhuru Kenyatta's nominee for an ambassador's position, Engineer John Ogango, on Monday formally declined to attend the vetting interview with the National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations committee.
Conveying the development, committee chairperson Katoo Ole Metito revealed that the nominee cited personal matters as his reason for backing down.
The Kajiado South Member of Parliament (MP) added that the nominee refused to elaborate on the personal matters that could potentially lock him out of the position.
The ambassador nominee was scheduled to appear before the panel at noon for vetting which he never did.
[caption caption="Eng. John Ogango"][/caption]
Eng. Ogango is the immediate former director general of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) and was replaced by Luke Kipchumba Kimeli in an acting capacity.
"I hereby appoint Mr Luke Kipchumba Kimeli as the acting director general of the authority in accordance with the Kenya Roads Act.
"In view of the above, I direct the board to urgently commence competitive recruitment for the director general position," Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia stated in a letter to KERRA chairperson Rose Githua.
The Public Relations coordinator at KERRA spoke to Kenyans.co.ke outlining that his return to the roads authority would only be determined by President Kenyatta, as the appointing authority.
Former State House legal advisor Abdikadir Mohamed also rejected the President's appointment as South Korea Ambassador on personal grounds. It is believed that he considered his young family and his skill set.
Others who were set to be vetted by the committee include former Migori Senator Wilfred Machage, former Sports PS Richard Ekai and former Lagdera MP Mohammed Shidiye.
[caption caption="File image of Kajiado South MP Katoo Ole Metito (left) with his counterpart Richard Tong'i"][/caption]