Uhuru Kenyatta appointed envoys face Ruto recall
Envoys appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta face recall with President Ruto set to reshuffle diplomatic postings
Envoys appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta face recall with President Ruto set to reshuffle diplomatic postings.
President William Ruto is preparing a significant reorganization of the nation’s diplomatic posts, with an initial focus on at least 30 positions that will see close to half of the important individuals chosen by former President Uhuru Kenyatta retire or be replaced.
Ruto will have a second chance to reward close allies who were not chosen for the Cabinet and main secretaries positions thanks to the openings for the positions of ambassador and high commissioner.
Presidents have historically utilized these envoy positions to reward important allies, and many people are interested in large posts since they are seen to provide them power abroad.
“Diplomatic postings are done according to the prerogative of the President. The Ruto government is not about vengeance or unfair treatment. Yes, there will be changes but they will be based on a clear and fair criterion and not punitive,” Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua told the Sunday Nation.
Dr. Korir Sing’oei, principal secretary for foreign affairs, confirmed the planned appointments but stressed that the circumstances surrounding the departure of the incumbent officeholders would differ from person to person.
He claimed that the majority of envoys had served their four-year contracts, while some have entered their final year before retiring.
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“An ambassador serves a maximum of 48 months. There are about 20 who have exceeded this period and will be recalled. Ambassadors over 60 years old, having attained retirement age unless in exceptional circumstances, will be recalled. There are about six in this category,” Dr. Sing’oei said.
But in what could be interpreted as a plan by Dr. Ruto that could see a clean sweep in all Kenyan missions abroad, Dr. Sing’oei said the envoys, after all, serve at the pleasure of the President.
“Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President and so it is possible some who may not fit the two criteria above could be recalled,” said Dr. Sing’oei.
According to reports, a senior member of Ruto’s inner circle told the Sunday Nation that the purging of Uhuru allies in the country’s missions abroad is likely to commence immediately after the President concludes the changes which have been going on in boards of various parastatals.
“Obviously, we are going for all the ambassadors and high commissioners. The process would have started earlier, but we were waiting for a few things (pending). The boss (Ruto) was dealing with the boards and he has been away and that is why it has not been concluded but we expect that in the next one or two weeks he would have sorted the boards and started embassies and consulates,” said the source.
He added: “They never believed in this government, why should we retain them? Even in America, when a new president comes in, all ambassadors are recalled.”
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