Shame of late salaries, leaky roofs as broke foreign missions struggle

The offices of Kenyan missions in nine countries are in pathetic and deplorable conditions with some having leaking roofs and the ambassadors using outdated vehicles that do not meet diplomatic standards.

A report tabled in Parliament by the chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, Katoo Ole Metito (Kajiado South), paints a grim picture of broke foreign missions that can't even buy simple office equipment such as safes and cabinets.

The Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC, for instance, has wooden windows, which have deteriorated over time and needs to be placed with modern aluminium.

“The iron sheet roof and supporting structure had deteriorated extensively and there was evidence of general leakages. Gutters and down water pipes were extensively corroded,” reads the Committee report.

LEAKAGES

“Most of the ceilings have evidence of previous damages associated with leakages from the roof,” the report further reads.

The committee pointed out that the building has greatly deteriorated with passage of time and, in comparison with neighbouring structures, its state of general neglect stands out like a sore thumb.

The Committee noted that most staff in Kenyan embassies in South Korea, Beijing, China and Tokyo Japan were recalled and have not been replaced to date, creating a shortage of staff in the embassy.

The Committee also found that there is a lot of underutilised space in the premises of embassies in China and Japan that can be used for construction of staff houses.

INCURRING HUGE COSTS

The MPs further noted that the government is incurring huge costs in terms of rent as the Chancery building in Seoul, Korea is in a leased premise.

The Kenyan embassy in Vienna, Austria has no sufficient funds and the staff cannot even travel to other towns away from the capital city.

The embassy also lacks funds to hold trade fairs and exhibitions to promote Kenya and Kenyans products.

According to the report, staff at the Kenyan mission at the UN in Geneva have often failed to be paid on time amid other pending bills due to delays by the National Treasury to disburse funds on time.

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“The mission has not been able to replace unserviceable furniture and equipment both at the chancery and in the staff houses, and most officers live in unfavourable conditions,” adds the report.

TAP INVESTMENTS

The committee visited the embassies on diverse dates between April 19 and June 22, 2018.

The main aim of the visits was to assess the status of the Kenyan missions in Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, USA and Canada so as to learn about their performance, operations, challenges and opportunities to tap investments and enhance tourism and trade.

The committee recommended proper funding to enable the missions deliver on their mandate of projecting and protecting Kenya’s national interests.