A parliamentary committee has cleared three individuals for appointment as Kenya’s envoys abroad.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs has approved the nomination of former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja for appointment as Kenya’s ambassador to Brasilia, Brazil.
The committee chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech has also cleared the nomination of former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba for appointment as the Permanent Representative, United National Environment Programme (UNEP) / United Nations Office Nairobi (UNON).
The MPs also approved the nomination of former Deputy Inspector of Police Noor Gabow as the Consular General, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“Having conducted the approval hearings under Article 132(2)(e) of the Constitution, Section 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval Act), Cap 7F, Section 20(2) of the Foreign Affairs Service Act, Cap185E, and Standing Order 216(5)(f) of the National Assembly, the committee recommends that approves the appointment of Dr Andrew Karanja, as Ambassador, Brasilia, Brazil,” Mr Koech said in a report to the House.
The committee said the nomination of former ICT Cabinet Secretary Margret Nyambura as the new High Commissioner to Ghana had lapsed.
Ms Nyambura wrote to the National Assembly's Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs declining to appear for vetting.
“Dr Magaret Nyambura Ndung’u, nominee for High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana, vide a letter dated 9th January 2025, notified the Clerk of the National Assembly of her withdrawal from the approval process under section 6(10) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval Act), Cap 7F, therefore, her nomination lapsed,” the committee said in the report.
The committee found all the nominees who appeared before it for vetting to be qualified for appointment as ambassadors and high commissioners.
“The nominees indicated compliance with Articles 77 and 76 of the Constitution on the conduct and financial probity of State officers,” the committee said.
“They indicated the nonexistence of potential conflict of interest and committed to declare any should it arise.”
The Koech-led committee took issue with the recurring trend of nominees declining to attend approval hearings in Parliament which implies a lapse in the due diligence process by the authorities responsible for recommending individuals to the appointing authority.
The committee said it noted with dismay the successive decline by two nominees to appear for vetting concerning the position of High Commissioner to Acra, Ghana.
“The committee urges the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, alongside the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service to enhance the rigor of their due diligence process and ensure nominees are consulted, concur, and are ready to serve the country to avoid incidents of nominees turning down the nominations,” Mr Koech said.
The National Assembly is expected to debate and approve the names of the envoys this afternoon for onward transmission to President William Ruto for appointment.
The House is holding a special sitting to approve the nominees for ambassadorial positions, the approval of three nominees for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries, and the approval of nine nominees for appointment to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The nominees to the PSC are vice chairperson Mary Wanjira Kimonye and members Dr Irene Cherotich Asienga, Boya Molu, Joan Andisi Machayo, and Dr Francis Otieno Owino.
Earlier, the House approved seven nominees for appointment to fill vacant positions at the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Sammy Chepkwony is the chairperson of SRC.
It also cleared Major General Martin Kizito Ong’onyi, Mohamed Aden Abdi Jane Gatakaa Njage Dr. Gilda Odera Geoffrey Apollo Omondi, and Leonid Ashindu as members of the SRC.
