Public Service Commission Chairperson Anthony Muchiri.
The ghosts of the Sh1.5 billion Tokyo embassy scandal returned to haunt Antony Muchiri, the nominee for appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador to Ankara, Turkey.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations put Ambassador Muchiri, the current Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson, on the spot to explain his role in the controversial purchase of Kenya’s Embassy building and Ambassador’s residence in Tokyo, Japan.
Also called to clear her past was former Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore, over the disputed purchase of a Karen home from Gatanga MP Edward Muriu in 2023.
Ms Bore, who has been nominated as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Windhoek, Namibia, and Ambassador Muchiri appeared before MPs for vetting.
Public Service Commission chairman Anthony Muchiri.
A vetting with a past
The committee chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech pressed Ambassador Muchiri to explain his involvement in the Tokyo embassy deal, which allegedly saw taxpayers lose more than Sh200 million.
In 2013, Muchiri—then Kenya’s Ambassador to Libya—was arrested alongside former Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Thuita Mwangi, and former chargé d'affaires in Japan, Allan Mburu, over the 2009 deal. The matter became a national scandal a year later when Parliament began investigating the transaction.
The trio, later acquitted for lack of evidence, had been accused by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of authorising the purchase of the embassy building and residence while “aware that a fair market price could have been obtained had proper procurement procedures been followed.”
Mr Mwangi and Mr Mburu were accused of unlawfully approving the expenditure of 1.7 billion Japanese yen (about Sh1.5 billion).
The Kenyan embassy in Tokyo, Japan. The government is said to have lost about Sh1.1 billion in the project to acquire embassy premises.
Muchiri's defence
Ambassador Muchiri, who declared his net worth at Sh86 million, told MPs that he had been charged simply because he was a member of the Inter-Ministerial Tender Committee that cleared the deal.
“In the process of procuring the embassy, a team comprising officers from the Treasury and the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, which I led, was sent to Japan to assess five properties that had been identified,” Mr Muchiri said.
“We assessed the properties, identified the Tokyo one, and recommended it for purchase. The tender committee approved our recommendation but we were later told it had not been subjected to the required procurement process.”
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari pressed Muchiri to explain why he was charged and why Parliament should now entrust him with another diplomatic posting.
“There are integrity issues regarding your role in the Tokyo embassy procurement in 2010. This House has a report, which has not been rescinded, recommending action against you,” Ms Wangari said. “Why should we trust you to lead the embassy team in Ankara given these lingering questions?”
Ambassador Muchiri insisted that the procurement went through all due processes.
“It went through all stages, and I did not sit in the last two Inter-Ministerial Tender Committee meetings that approved the purchase,” he said.
“The National Treasury gave authority for the acquisition, and the embassy building and residence were purchased.”
He also denied claims that Japan had offered Kenya free land for the mission, saying records showed the land was priced.
“I acknowledge that this matter has been of concern to me,” he said. “But His Excellency the President reviewed my career progression and credentials and deemed me fit to serve in Ankara. I seek your approval.”
Bore's Karen property dispute
Meanwhile, Ms Bore defended herself over the 2023 dispute with MP Muriu concerning the Karen property.
“He ( Muriu) was selling his house at Sh120 million. We negotiated and signed a sale agreement where I paid a Sh10 million deposit,” Ms Bore said.
“Later, Muriu changed his mind and cancelled the deal. I don’t know why he reneged on our agreement. I sought a refund and released the property since it was a willing buyer, willing seller arrangement.”
Ms Bore, who declared her net worth at Sh302.6 million said the matter was amicably resolved.
The committee also vetted Ambassador Lucy Kiruthu, nominated to Bangkok, Thailand, and Henry Wambuma (Bujumbura, Burundi).
Others slated for vetting include Abdirashid Salat Abdille (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ambassador Joseph Musyoka (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Ambassador Edwin Afande (Vienna, Austria), Jayne Jepkorir Toroitich (Dubai, UAE), and Judy Kiaria Nkumiri (Goma, DRC).
