Diplomats in foreign service go six months without pay
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Diplomats in foreign service go six months without pay with some facing eviction from their residence
Diplomats in foreign service go six months without pay with some facing eviction from their residence.
National Assembly Committee on Defence Intelligence and Foreign Affairs on Thursday exposed the untold sufferings of Kenyan diplomats.
Speaking during the appearance of Foreign and diaspora affairs CS Alfred Mutua, the committee chair Nelson Koech revealed that many foreign diplomats had gone for six months without pay.
“Our attaches abroad have not been paid for the past six months. Some of them have been threatened with eviction. They are living in very deplorable conditions,” Koech told the committee when the CS appeared before them.
The committee raised concerns about how it was possible for Kenyans not paid for six months to survive.
Koech said the delay could cause unimaginable embarrassment to the country as the envoys represent the face of the country.
A diplomat had also confirmed that they were last paid by the regime of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The ambassador, who sought anonymity, agreed with the presentation of MP Koech on their plight saying things are getting out of hand for them.
“We were last paid by Uhuru’s government. Speaking for myself and colleagues, we were last paid in September,” the ambassador said.
When reached to comment on the developments, CS Mutua said they have cleared all salaries.
He did not deny that the ambassadors had gone for six months without pay.
“There was an initial delay in payments but currently, all Kenyan diplomats have been paid. We do not have a single payment. If there is, please get me specifics and I will follow up to find out why,” the CS said.
In his statement before the committee of the National Assembly, Mutua acknowledged that there had been a delay in the payment.
He acknowledged that some ambassadors were receiving payments from various departments, but blamed the government’s financial difficulties on the previous administration’s massive borrowing binge.
“So let’s say you’re posted in Japan. Huyu ni wa Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amelipwa na Ministry of Foreign affairs, lakini wa Interior hajalipwa yake,” he said.
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“Now that is what I am trying to change. I am saying, let all the monies be brought to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and let us pay.”
The revelation comes hot on the heels of uproar over salary delays that hit some of the civil servants ahead of the Easter holidays.
The majority of them, including MPs, went on vacation without getting paid, forcing the Azimio coalition to demand an investigation from the Kenya Revenue Authority.
The stalemate triggered speculations that the government could be on the verge of collapse with the opposition saying since independence, such a crisis has never been witnessed.
“For the first time since independence in 1963, the government is unable to pay salaries to civil servants and members of parliament Nearly all civil servants don’t when or if they will ever be paid. The situation has been degenerating progressively since December last year,” National Assembly minority Opiyo Wandayi said.
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