'It's an embarrassment': Ruto's Chief of Staff, Foreign Ministry called out over diplomatic nominee rejection

National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Chair and Belgut MP Nelson Koech has called out Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for allegedly failing to properly vet nominees before presenting them for diplomatic roles.

Koech made the remarks at Parliament buildings in Nairobi on Friday, after Former ICT Cabinet Secretary (CS) Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u declined President William Ruto’s nomination as Kenya's High Commissioner to Ghana High Commissioner to Ghana

Ndung’u was scheduled to appear before the Koech-led Committee for vetting on Friday, January 10 at 9 am, but instead sent a letter officially announcing her decision.

She is the second nominee to turn down the position, following former West Mugirango MP Victor Mogaka Kemosi, who declined in April 2024.

According to Koech, Koskei, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should conduct thorough checks before presenting the nominees' names to Parliament, as their rejection reflects poorly on President Ruto and Kenya.

“It is imperative for this committee that we put notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of Public Service that they should do their due diligence in future when doing this appointment,” Koech said.  

“The picking of names of individuals who probably may not have been consulted or have no interest to represent our country is not only an embarrassment to the country but an embarrassment to the President.”

Further, Koech suggested that more care and intentionality should be applied when choosing candidates for state jobs, ensuring they are truly committed to serving the country and representing President Ruto effectively.

“We want to put on notice that this exercise of dropping names of individuals not interested in being diplomats should stop and we should be more cautious and intentional in looking for people who have an interest in serving the country and representing the President,” he said.

“It is extremely embarrassing that for the second time, a nominee to the High commission of Ghana has declined. As a committee we do not take that very lightly.”