Riddle of envoys-in-waiting

• Kibaki is yet to give diplomats the go-ahead to perform duties

China’s new ambassador to Kenya, Mr Deng Hongbo, arrived in Kenya on May 11 but it was not until July 7 that he got the chance to present his credentials to President Kibaki.

The Nation can now reveal that the envoy cooled his heels at the Chinese embassy for almost two months, doing nothing because diplomatic protocol dictates that an envoy must get the blessings of the host head of state before getting down to official duties.

Current drift

But, going by Kenya’s current drift in handling its diplomatic visitors, Mr Deng was a lucky man, for the list of foreign envoys waiting to get Kibaki’s audience is longer than expected.

His Swedish counterpart Ann Dismorr, who is the current representative of the European Union in Kenya, arrived in the country on September 1 and is yet to get audience with President Kibaki.

Consequently, Ms Dismorr is yet to be recognised as the Swedish envoy to Kenya, forcing her country to rely on her deputy, Mr Bjorn Haggmark, as its official spokesman.

So is Germany’s Margit Hellwig-Bötte, who arrived in the country in August to replace the outgoing ambassador Mr Walter Lindner.

Also consigned to guesswork and the waiting game is Uganda’s Angelina Wapakhabulo, who reported to her new base last month.

Busy person

She replaces Mr Matayo Kyaligonza, who bid the country farewell at the height of the Migingo Island dispute on May 27.

Contacted for comment, the head of chancery at the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi, Mr Charles Oundo, said they will keep on waiting. “A president is a busy person,” he said. “Diplomats understand this.’’

The President’s spokesman, Mr Isaiah Kabira, speaking from State House, declined to issue any statement, saying “that’s a Foreign ministry issue”.

At the Foreign ministry, Prof Egara Kabaji, the director of communication said: “The day of presenting the credentials is determined by the authority receiving the accredited officer and, in this case, it is the Office of the President. Waiting is a normal practice.

“Even our ambassadors don’t just arrive at their stations and present papers the next day,’’ he added.

Kenya’s tradition of diplomatic relations prescribes that a new ambassador or high commissioner must be received by Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials the first day he/she sets foot on Kenyan soil.