President Kenyatta keen on envoy jobs- Foreign Ministry

President Kenyatta has promised to fill five ambassadorial positions amid fears over lack of representation in key missions abroad.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the ministry had written to the President, who assured he was aware that some missions were vacant after the term of the ambassadors expired.

Dr Kibicho said there was no law requiring the President, who is the appointing authority, to fill up the positions and that he was taking his time to get the right candidates, following Jubilee government strategy to use the missions abroad to strengthen economic ties and boost trade.

"The President has announced that he intends to use foreign missions to boost economic activities for the benefit of the country and it is only fair we allow him to follow his own criteria in picking the right choices for ambassadors,” he said.

Two of the ambassadors recalled have since been promoted to principal secretaries and four others have returned home but their replacements are yet to be deployed.

Former Ethiopian ambassador Monica Juma and Richard Ekai, formerly ambassador in Thailand, have since been promoted to PSs in charge of ministries of Defence and Mining respectively.

However, the President has posted a new ambassador to the US to replace Elkanah Odembo, who was recalled after expiry of his four-year contract.

But missions in Pakistan, Burundi and Canada are yet to be filled despite the ambassadors having returned to the country, and their posts remain vacant.

Dr Kibicho said there would be no crisis in the running of the foreign missions saying there were structures to ensure they were operational.

The contracts of 14 other ambassadors had expired but they were yet to leave their missions as some were awaiting for official farewell engagements with the Heads of State of the countries and others such as UK High Commissioner Ephraim Ngari, had important engagements to attend before they could return to the country.

The return of Egypt ambassador David Arunga had been delayed due to the on going turmoil and protests over the ousting of Egyptian president Mohammed Morsy.

Five others were in line to be recalled and were only awaiting the respective Heads of State to host their farewell parties before they could officially leave their missions. The ceremonies are held subject to the available of the presidents of the respective countries, said Dr Kibicho.

Other ambassadors set to be replaced include Mary Kimula, Unesco ambassador based in Paris, Catherine Mwangi of Ireland, John Mutiso of Tanzania, Anthony Muchiri (Libya) and James Ochami, ambassador of the DR Congo.

Others are Mohammed Mahat of Kuwait and Cleveland Leshore of South Sudan.

Dr Kibicho said only a small number of the 52 ambassadors and high commissioners heading various Kenyan missions in the world would be replaced, saying there was no blanket replacement of ambassadors upon coming into power of the Jubilee government.

“Only a small percentage of Kenya missions will be affected and the notion that it is a blanket replacement in all our 52 missions is not correct,” he said.

He termed as rumours ambassadors had been held up in foreign missions due to lack of government facilitation to travel back to the country, saying Kenyan missions had sufficient budgets for smooth operations, including travel for ambassadors and other officials.