Diplomatic jobs a sham, says minister

An assistant minister on Sunday dismissed appointments to the diplomatic service as a “sham”.

Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka said the seven appointments to ambassadorial positions were “political and not diplomatic”.

As Mr Onyonka spoke, the Nation learnt that some diplomats may have been appointed quietly but their names were not released to the media on Thursday.

Former Internal security Minister Julius Sunkuli is one of those who quietly left the country to represent the country in China. Mr Sunkuli has been in China for more than two months.

Political cronies

Mr Onyonka said morale of employees at the ministry was low because the system had perfected the art of rewarding “political cronies” rather than professionalism.

The assistant minister who appeared to be criticising his own bosses said although Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi had tried to ensure ambassadorial appointments were professional, political interests had taken over.

The Kitutu Chache MP said it defeated logic to appoint individuals whose constituents had lost faith in them to such positions to represent the country.

“There is no reason for students to study diplomacy any more if this is the reward of this professionalism,” he added.

Mr Onyonka also said there was no gender or equity among parties and communities in the appointments that saw three ministry officials promoted to the rank of ambassadors but retained in Kenya.

He described the new appointments which were announced by President Kibaki last Thursday as “striking deals and rewarding stooges” among top leaders in the Government.