Parliamentary Committee vets nominated ambassadors

The ambassador nominee for Somalia Retired Major General Thomas Chepkuto has called on Kenyans to change their perception on Somalia and invest in the country that got a new government just last week.

General Chepkuto who is currently the deputy head of mission in Somalia said that contrary to the misconception that it is a war-torn country, its a fast rising country. 

The final day of vetting ambassadorial nominees was an engagement between the National Assembly defense and foreign relations committee and three retired major generals nominated to head diplomatic missions.

Retired Major General Chepkuto spoke of Somalia’s great potential as a key trade partner of Kenya, rising from the ashes of civil war and terrorism.

Retired Major General George Owino, a lecturer at the Center for defense studies was put to task on how he would revive the dwindling trade relations between Kenya and Uganda upon his posting to Kampala.

Nominated to represent Kenya at the Inter Governmental Authority on Development, Retired major general Charles Gituayi explained how he would safeguard Kenya’s interests in Eastern Africa.

Other nominees who appeared before the committee include University of Nairobi lecturer Prof. Richard Bosire nominated to represent Kenya at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO and Michael Oyugi the envoy nominee to Spain.

Last month, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed 24 Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

The Head of State also appointed seven new Ambassadors who will serve as Deputy Heads of Missions and four officials to the post of Consul-General.

Further, the president appointed an Ambassador and Special Envoy for the Maritime and Blue Economy.

He also promoted six senior Foreign Service Officers to the rank of Ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters.

The newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners (Heads of Mission) are:

1. Mr. Clement Nzomo – Ambassador of the Republic of Angola
2. Ms Mary Mogwanja – Ambassador to the Republic of Austria
3. Prof. Bitage Ndemo – Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium
4. Ms Muthoni Gichohi – Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China
5. Amb. Gathoga Chege –  Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba
6. Dr. Caroline Wanjiru Karugu – Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark
7. Amb. Salim Salim Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti
8. Maj Gen A.G. Matiiri – Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt
9. Amb. Galma Baru – Ambassador to Me Republic of Indonesia
10. Amb. Paul Ndung’u – Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique
11. Mr. Michael Sialai – High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia
12. Maj Gen Andrew Ikenye – High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
13. Ms Margaret Shave – Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
14. Ms Amina Abdalla – Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
15. Amb. Nyambura Kamau – High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
16. Mr. Boniface N Mwilu – Ambassador to the State of Qatar
17. Amb. Diana Kiambuthi – High Commissioner to the Republic of Rwanda
18. Amb. Michael Oyugi – Ambassador to the Kingdom or Spain
19. Maj Gn (Rtd) Thomas Chepkuto – Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia
20. Amb. Isaac Njenga –  High Commissioner to the United Republic of Tanzania
21. Mr. Leonard Boiyo – Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey
22. Maj Gen(Rtd) George Owinow – High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda
23. Prof Richard Bosire – Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations  Educational, Scientific and cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

24. Maj Gen (Rtd) Charles Gituai – Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the Inter-Government Authority for Development (IGAD)

The Newly appointed Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Missions are:

1. Ms Hariet Nduma- Kenya Embassy Vienna, Austria
2. Mr Dennis Makobu -Kenya Embassy Brussels, Begium
3. Mr Edwin Afande – Kenya Embassy Beijing, China
4. Mr George Kwanya – Kenya Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
5. Mr Sammy Nyule Ngumbao – Kenya Embassy Tokyo
6. Ms Jane Sirindi Githinji-  Kenya Embassy Mosco, Russia

The Consuls-General are:

1. Mr Dennis Mburu – Kenya Consulate Arusha, Tanzania
2. Dennis Waweru – Kenya Consulate Goma, Democaratic Republic of Congo
3. Benson Mwaliko – Kenya Consulate Hargesia, Somaliland
4. Tomas Kwaka Omolo – Kenya Consulate United States of America

The Ambassador and special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy is Mrs Nancy Karigithu.

The Foreign Service Officers promoted to the rank of Ambassadors at the Ministry’s Headquarters are:

1. Mr Fredrick Matwang’a
2. Mr Phillip Githiora
3. Ms Betty Cherwon
4. Mrs Angeline Musili
5. Ms Peris Kariuki
6. Mr Yabesh Monari

Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/president-kenyatta-appoints-24-new-ambassadors-high-commissioners/