Diplomat’s career in suspense after transfer stand-off

Deputy Kenya' s ambassador to South Africa Jane Waikenda whose diplomatic career lies in limbo after she reportedly disagreed with top Foreign ministry officials over her transfer to another country. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Ms Waikenda was the Director of Immigration until August last year when President Uhuru Kenyatta replaced her with Major-General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa and announced her posting to Pretoria, South Africa, as deputy ambassador.
• The Algerian Embassy, opened in February this year, was initially assigned to Mr John Lanyasunya, former head of Asian affairs at the ministry in Nairobi. But it was later given to Mr Richard Lemoshira, who had initially been appointed to Zimbabwe.

By AGGREY MUTAMBO
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The diplomatic career of former Immigration boss Jane Waikenda is in limbo after she reportedly disagreed with top Foreign ministry officials over her transfer to another country.

Ms Waikenda was the Director of Immigration until August last year when President Uhuru Kenyatta replaced her with Major-General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa and announced her posting to Pretoria, South Africa, as deputy ambassador.

Ms Waikenda has, however, been under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged irregular issuance of work permits to foreigners. She is yet to be cleared by the anti-graft authorities.

But sources have told the Sunday Nation that she has stirred fresh controversy after she declined to honour a directive by Foreign PS Karanja Kibicho in April to move to Algiers from Pretoria as part of a wider reshuffle, mostly aimed at ethnic balancing of Kenya’s missions abroad.

Ms Waikenda is supposed to swap places with the Deputy Head of Mission in Algeria, Mr Lemarron Kaanto.

After she was posted to Pretoria to deputise Ms Jean Kamau, Foreign Affairs officials were keen to make changes to avoid having two top diplomats from the same ethnic community running one mission. Further, it is said some staff in South Africa were uncomfortable with Ms Waikenda’s style of leadership.  

The ethnic balance headache was also playing out in Algiers. The Algerian Embassy, opened in February this year, was initially assigned to Mr John Lanyasunya, former head of Asian affairs at the ministry in Nairobi. But it was later given to Mr Richard Lemoshira, who had initially been appointed to Zimbabwe.

DECLINED CREDENTIALS

Mr Lanyasunya was subsequently moved to Canada after authorities in Ottawa declined to receive the credentials of Ms Lucy Chelimo, one of the youngest, but inexperienced, appointees. Ms Chelimo ended up in Zimbabwe and her deputy, incidentally from Mr Lemoshira’s ethnic community, was sent to Algeria.

“We were faced with two situations where Kenyans could easily challenge us on ethnic imbalance,” said a ministry diplomat who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely.He added: “Foreign Service positions are privileged and anyone can be moved. These transfers were made to correct that error.” Under recent regulations of the Foreign Service, an ambassador and their deputy cannot come from the same ethnic background.

But the stalled transfer has created confusion. Mr Kaanto is said to have since moved to Pretoria to replace Ms Waikenda, but could be facing challenges settling down.

Sources further claim the stand-off has to do with the position of consul-general in Los Angeles, which has yet to be filled since Ms Kamau left for a new diplomatic assignment. A consul-general, though a lower rank than a full ambassador, acts autonomously and reports directly to the ministry in Nairobi. It is said Ms Waikenda preferred this post.

Mr Kibicho said reports that Ms Waikenda had refused to move to Algiers were “laughable rumours”.

“(Ms) Waikenda is in Kenya. She is awaiting to be cleared by EACC before she moves to Algeria. (Mr) Kaanto is in Pretoria working as our deputy head of mission.”

And Ms Waikenda told the Sunday Nation: “I have no comment on my reported transfer. I am in Kenya at the moment.”

She also said reports that she had refused to be transferred were not true.

Last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta named 25 new diplomats.