Is This The End For Ambassador Purity Muhindi?
Jostling for envoys jobs
Updated on: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Story by: Obadiah Ayoti
THE much anticipated appointment and re-deployment of ambassadors and high commissioners by President Mwai Kibaki has not been effected due to intense lobbying and
Ambassador Purity Muhindi: To Go?
political intrigues.It is understood that Party of National Unity (PNU) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) operatives are locked in intense jostling and canvassing for key postings.
The appointments which were scheduled to be announced last week by President Kibaki are expected to be made this week following extensive consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The President is expected to make the ambassadorial appointments alongside those of chief executives of state corporations.
PNU and ODM leaders are said to be silently exchanging jibes with each party fighting for strategic missions abroad in what is also being seen as attempts to consolidate power bases. At the centre of the intense jostling are influential Western postings that include the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France. Also attracting keen interest is South Africa.
Sources intimated to Kenya Times that Kenyan envoys to the United Kingdom and United States, Joseph Muchemi and Rateng Ogego respectively, are set to be recalled and their positions taken over by allies of the Prime Minister. The rationale, we are told, is the apparent cordial relationships the PM enjoys with those in power in these capitals. ODM strategists are understood to have been pushing for the removal of Ogego, whom they believe owed his appointment to former Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju.
Also targeted for recall are the ambassadors to New York Zachary Domnic Mbururi-Muita, Rachel Omamo (France), Ann Belinda Nyukuli (Rome, Italy), Mutuma Kathurima (Berlin) and Thomas Amollo (South Africa).Other postings up for grabs include missions in Cairo, Brussels, Geneva, Canada, Australia, Russia and Stokholm. Former cabinet minister and ODM strategist in last year’s general election Dr Amukoa Anangwe is said to be eyeing St James Court (the UK) but PNU bigwigs are lobbying for him to be posted to a lesser strategic mission.
Anangwe’s appointment is premised on the presumption that since Raila enjoys good rapport with the West, it would make more strategic sense (economic ties) to have his man in the UK.On the other hand, the diplomatic quid-pro-quo (something for something) arrangement floated requires Kibaki to appoint envoys to key Eastern countries like China where the president is said to enjoy massive support for increased business deals over the five years he has been in power.
To this end, Kibaki is understood to have already appointed a former powerful Internal Security minister during the Moi regime as Kenyan ambassador to China. The new envoy is yet to take up the Beijing posting. The former senior Kanu official recently withdrew from the race for a key Rift Valley Parliamentary seat which was subsequently won by a PNU candidate.
The move comes at a time when the ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a major reshuffle in various missions abroad, replacing 200 officers. The officers will be replaced with new ones who are currently undergoing training at the Kenya Foreign Service Institute. The changes were made in anticipation of new appointments of heads of mission abroad.
The tussle for the prestigious appointments comes against a backdrop of discontent within ODM and amid claims that the party has been short-changed placed at the periphery in the coalition by President Kibaki who still wields too much power and influence despite having agreed to share power equally with the Premier as stipulated by the National Accord and Reconciliation Act.
The dissenting voices in ODM who are mostly MPs point out that about four months down the road since Raila was sworn in, his office is not fully functional either by design or default, that it is a sham for a portfolio of that stature to have only four members of staff who include the Permanent Secretary Mohammed Isahakia. They question why those who were top strategists and ODM supporters have not been appointed to ambassadorial and parastatal positions and why President Kibaki retained all the positions after the signing of the accord.
When reached for comment last evening, Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula downplayed the issue, insisting that President Kibaki and Raila would make the appointments at an appropriate time.”There is no crisis to warrant emergency appointments. The two principals are still consulting and it is prudent that you give them time,” said Wetangula.But an ODM insider confirmed to Kenya Times about the tussle and expressed hope that there would be equity in the postings.
Ministry To Recall 100 Foreign Missions’ Employees
Published on 14/08/2008
By Ayub Savula
The Government will recall more than 100 employees in a shake up affecting al
l the 50 missions abroad, The Standard has established. The move will affect junior, middle-level and some senior staff in reforms that Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi say are aimed at cost cutting.
At the senior level, those affected are accountants and Government executive officers posted to all foreign missions. On Wednesday, the PS told The Standard that the Government would save Sh15 million a year from each of the junior staff recalled home and Sh20 million for the middle level officers. “This cost includes housing, utility bills, medical cover and school fees for their children, among other things,” said Mwangi.
Also to be recalled are education attachÈs, who control foreign scholarships in the missions.
Mwangi said many of the staff would be redeployed to other ministries and those who had reached retirement age would retire.
The move comes two months after Nominated MP Mohammed Affey of ODM-Kenya asked the Foreign Affairs minister in Parliament why salaries of ambassadors and High Commissioners were not increased when the Government rewarded PSs.
However, Mr Wetangula said his ministry declined to increase diplomats’ salaries and allowances because pay raise proposals were skewed.
Lean staff
Wetangula said embassies would have lean staff to cut down on foreign missions’ budget.
The PS said all accountants would be recalled and the ministry plans to carry out the function from Nairobi.
The junior staff affected includes drivers, cooks and security warders.
“There is no need of drivers from Kenya serving in embassies because it is an expensive exercise,” added Mwangi.
He said in some cases, some diplomats had moved their relatives to foreign missions and employed them as cooks or drivers.
Mwangi said this was costly to the Government.
He said major reforms had been carried out in the ministry in the past two years to boost efficiency and cut down the cost of expenditure in foreign missions.
The changes are also part of Government plans to restructure the missions.
“We want staff in the missions who can perform multi-functions which include economic, foreign policy and political affairs,” he added.
Mwangi also said a new yardstick had been designed in the ministry to ensure quality performance in foreign missions.
The new Foreign Service Institute will also help shape up the ministry staff to enhance effective co-ordination of foreign policy.
Mwangi said the Government had also stopped paying school fees for children of middle level staff in the missions.
“Some missions used to misuse money on leisure activities, which include horse riding, and even paid money to study piloting,” said Mwangi.
But in the reforms, the ministry has also opened new embassies in Africa and other countries and acquired some assets.
“We now have a beautiful chancery in Dar-es-Salaam. We have also achieved much in Brazil and Islamabad,” said the PS
“How can we have one senior or two senior staff in one mission having an accountant posted from Kenya. This is wastage of resources ” he said.
However, the PS noted that some of the staff to be recalled had decided to remain in foreign countries but hired on local terms. He said this is cheaper because they don’t have to be housed.
Mwangi said recalled employees would be absorbed locally or retired voluntary.
About KSB
New Book On Kenya December 2007 Election Crisis: In Circulation
-
Recent Comments
Rita marley on Decoding The National Alliance… Ean Wuod Luo on What Else Did You Do When You … kimiti on Decoding The National Alliance… Ms wise on What Else Did You Do When You … Kimama Kinono(kieupe… on What Else Did You Do When You … NEW: COUNTRY STATS
