New ambassadors to be recruited competitively: PS

 


Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho has said President Kenyatta is keen on filling ambassadorial positions that remain vacant August 1, 2013. FILE  Nation Media Group

By NATION REPORTER

IN SUMMARY

Kibicho was making clarifications on speculations that 52 envoys had been recalled in a bid to fill new positions. He said only 15 envoys were recalled after their four year-terms ended.

New diplomats to replace those whose terms have expired will be recruited competitively.

The government will recruit 15 new ambassadors competitively to fill embassies left vacant by those recently recalled.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the positions will be refilled with preference to those who will efficiently manage the country’s resources, sell the country’s policies and source for new markets for Kenyan products.

“This year’s focus is on strengthening trade relations,” he said.

“We therefore have to subject each selected ambassador to a performance contract detailing goals which must be realised.”

Mr Kibicho added that the country was lagging behind with trade deficits amounting to Sh800 billion from last year’s international trade.

“Last year we imported goods worth Sh1.2 trillion and exported Sh400 billion which left us with a deficit of Sh800 billion”, the PS said during an interview with the Saturday Nation at his office on Thursday.

Henceforth, he noted, structural changes in the way missions operate had been made and the government was making new negotiations with African countries because the market is untapped.

Kibicho was making clarifications on speculations that 52 envoys had been recalled in a bid to fill new positions. He said only 15 envoys were recalled after their four year-terms ended.

Of the 15 recalled envoys, he clarified that four who had reported back were Mishy Mwasahu (Pakistan), Benjamin Mweri (Burundi), Simon Nabukwesi (Canada), Elkana Odembo (United States).

Five others were still paying courtesy calls to their missions by bidding farewell. They are Mary Kimolu (Paris), Catherine Mwangi (Ireland), John Mutinda Mutiso (Tanzania), Anthony Muchiri (Libya) and James Ochami (DR Congo).