13 Kenya ministers hit by trips ban
President Museveni arrives for the Igad Heads of State and Government meeting on the Sudan peace process at KICC in Nairobi yesterday. He was welcomed by Foreign minister Moses Wetang’ula (in glasses) and his Information counterpart Samuel Poghisio (third left). The two are among ministers barred from travelling abroad. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
At least 13 Cabinet ministers have been caught up in President Kibaki’s temporary ban on foreign trips to facilitate debate on the draft constitution.
Those affected include Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet ministers Najib Balala, Moses Wetang’ula, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Amos Kimunya, Dalmas Otieno, Henry Kosgey, Sam Ongeri, Sally Kosgei, Samuel Poghisio, Soita Shitanda, James Orengo and Charity Ngilu.
Ms Kosgei was to travel to Egypt to hand over as chairman of the Council of African Ministers for Science and Technology.
Kenya will, therefore, miss out on world forums as the ministers have swiftly cancelled the trips, some of which they were invited to attend as early as June last year. The ministers cannot delegate the functions to their assistants as they are also affected by the ban.
Tourism minister Balala was scheduled to visit Germany from March 10 to 14 for a marketing conference.
Foreign Affairs minister Wetang’ula was expected to visit a number of countries in Europe from March 15.
Medical Services minister Nyon’go was also scheduled to travel to Senegal for an international health conference at the weekend.
Trade minister Kimunya was scheduled to go to Lusaka, Zambia, on March 22, for a Comesa council meeting.
Public Service minister Otieno is already in Namibia, together with his permanent secretary, Mr Titus Ndambuki, but they are due to come back this weekend.
Industrialisation minister Kosgey was supposed to travel to India on March 14 for a standards bureau conference.
Education minister Ongeri was supposed to attend the sixth International Conference on Adult Education from March 20 to 26 in Germany.
Local Government minister Mudavadi was to travel to Brazil for the World Urban Forum from March 22 to 26.
Lands minister Orengo was also to go to Brazil for the same function as was Housing minister Shitanda.
Go to Spain
Information minister Poghisio was supposed to go to Uganda for the 8th Digital African Summit on Tuesday.
Water minister Ngilu was supposed to go to Spain for a water meeting on March 25. She was invited in June last year but that now stands cancelled.
President Kibaki banned Cabinet ministers from taking foreign trips until debate on the proposed constitution is concluded.
The decision to ban travel abroad was communicated to ministers in a letter by the head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura.
