By PETER LEFTIE Posted Wednesday, May 5 2010 at 22:29
The recent appointment of ambassadors and high commissioners is “above board,” the government said on Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula denied reports that the new envoys were picked “clandestinely”, saying they went through normal vetting processes before attending an induction course.
The envoys, said to number 25, are set to take up key postings in various parts of the world after the envoys representing Kenya in those countries were recalled.
The minister denied that the majority of the appointees were politicians who had lost in past elections or that appointments were influenced by senior government officials.
“You will agree with me that each one of us is related to someone somewhere. What we have tried to do is to ensure that we balance the appointments so that we get the best people,” Mr Wetang’ula said.
He said the new envoys had been thoroughly vetted by the ministry and had also been cleared by their host countries. “The country where you are going to serve must accept you. They do not just accept anybody,” he said.
Mr Wetang’ula said the names of the new appointees will be made public once the induction process is complete. Early last month, the government recalled at least 14 ambassadors and 115 junior staff.
Separately, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged envoys to scout for trade and investment rather than aid. Mr Odinga said Kenya was moving away from dependence on foreign aid and that envoys had to find markets for Kenyan goods abroad.
He urged the envoys, who had paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday, to portray the correct picture of events at home.
Additional reporting by PMPS
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