The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has vetted 24 of the 27 persons nominated by the President to serve as Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives of the Republic in the exercise that ends Thursday.
On Wednesday four nominees appeared before the Nelson Koech- led Committee to defend their suitability for the job.
The four were Amb. Stella Orina (Berlin, Germany), Nairimas Sharon Ole Sein (Madrid, Spain), Maurice Makoloo ( Vienna, Austria) and Emmy Jerono Kipsoi (Seoul, South Korea).
During the vetting, Members tested the nominees’ knowledge of global affairs, trade related issues in their suggested destinations of posting, contemporary diplomacy as well as their mastery of the ambassadorial duties that would await them if approved.
Amb. Orina who has been the Deputy Director-General Foreign Service Academy since June 2023, pledged to entrench the economic diplomacy pillar, to pursue a better balance of trade between Kenya and Germany if approved for posting to Berlin.
Ole Sein on the other hand, who served as Minister at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm between January & October 2023, said she would market Kenya as a favourable tourist destination for Spanish nationals if approved for appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador in Madrid.
Citing experience horned at his current position as Vice President of the Habitat for Humanity, Africa – which works closely with AU and the Member States – Makoloo said he would pursue environmental diplomacy to help cushions Kenyans against extreme climactic changes that could have implications on food security and agriculture.
He also pledged to strengthen the peace and security collaborations between Kenya and Austria, especially in tackling emergent threats such as cyber security.
Prof. Kipsoi who had been an Associate Professor in the Department of the Educational Foundations at Moi University since June 2015, said she would tap into her academic background and build strategic collaborations between South Korean and Kenyan institutions of higher learning.
Koech noted that most of the nominees had a diplomatic background, and challenged them to pursue avenues to market Kenya as a favourable investment destination if approved for appointment.
“We need to leverage on all these opportunities; and noting that most of the nominees have a diplomatic background will be a great headstart should this Committee approve your nomination for appointment,” said Koech.
The exercise resumes tomorrow with the last batch of three nominees, before the Committee retreats to draft a Report to be tabled in the House on or before 8th November, 2023.
