Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau, on Wednesday, explained the delay observed in the deployment of eight ambassadors to their various countries.
According to Macharia, a former envoy to US, the delays experienced from vetting to the subsequent appointment of the diplomats are normal.
“Delay in deployment of envoys is normal the world over. A case in hand is the new US ambassador to Kenya who has taken months before taking over,” he was quoted by a local publication.
He further dismissed reports that the envoys had been rejected by their host countries assuring that they would be reporting to their stations soon.
“They have all been accepted and will be leaving in the next few weeks. We are simply observing protocol and that is normal,” he told the Nation.
According to the publication, the delays necessitated emergency meetings between the National Assembly Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations and senior officials in the Foreign Affairs ministry to resolve the matter.
“We are aware of the matter but there is little we can do,” a member of the committee stated while the chairman, Katoo olé Metito, disclosed that he was not aware of further development since they vetted the officials.
“My committee vetted them based on the available documentation from authorised agencies. I am not aware of any developments after the parliamentary approval,” he was quoted.
Diplomats affected are; Ndegwa Muhoro (Malaysia), Benjamin Lang’at (Namibia),Richard Ekai (Russia), Johnson Kimani Ondiek (Turkey), Sarah Serem (China), Paddy Ahenda (Qatar), Samuel Thuita (Israel), and former State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu (United Kingdom).
The appointment of Phyllis Kandie as ambassador to the European Union (EU) has also run into diplomatic headwinds.
