Two ambassadorial nominees appear before vetting committee
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations earlier today vetted two ambassadorial nominees, Dr. Andrew Karanja and Ababu Namwamba for the positions of ambassador and High Commission respectively.
Karanja, who was vetted for the position of ambassador to Brazil refuted claims that vaccination of animals, which the Ministry of Agriculture, and Livestock Development, has been undertaking in the past, meant some ‘mischief’.
He said vaccines used in ministry in the country are manufactured in Embakasi, Kenya. Karanja said vaccination campaigns are usually carried out in pastoral communities to eradicate diseases such as foot and mouth diseases to ensure animal and food safety.
Asked if he would press for Kenya to join BRICS, he said he offered to liaise with the Brazilian government if approved in the position as ambassador for Kenya to join the group in order for Kenya to join the fruits.
Karanja argued that since countries like Ethiopia, Uganda, China, and Russia are members of the group; it would not be bad for Kenya as a leader in the east Africa region to join it. He said his main achievement while working as the CS of Agriculture, and Livestock Development was to stabilize the cost of fertilizer.
He said when he joined the ministry there was widespread outcry about what was being sold in the market as fertilizers.
Namwamba, who was also vetted for the position of Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, said he would press on Unep and UNHabitat to have two ambassadors. The former Budalangi Legislator is an immediate former Youth and Sports Cabinet Secretary under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He said there was a need to harmonise Kenya’s presence at the Unep, and UNHabitat to save cost for the country. He said taking such initiative would be strategic for the country.
Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, who had also been nominated to the position of Kenya’s High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana declined to appear before the committee, saying he would appear for personal reasons.
The immediate former ICT & Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary later on issued a statement declining the nomination by president Ruto.
The committee members cautioned the head of foreign affairs and head of public service to ensure that they forward the right names to the president for nomination instead of those who decline to take positions.
