Saitoti, officials grilled over envoys

By CYRUS OMBATI

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to reveal the relationship between diplomatic officers and the Executive.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister George Saitoti, his Assistant Richard Onyonka, acting PS Patrick Wamoto and Director of Administration Joseph Ndathi tried to evade revealing the relationships, arguing it could infringe on the envoys’ constitutional rights.

But the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations demanded that the ministry reveals the details for a report to be tabled in Parliament.

"As you know this question was referred to us by the House and we must take answers that are tangible. It is not a request but a demand," said committee chairman Adan Keynan.

Yesterday, Prof Saitoti and senior ministry officials appeared before the House team looking for answers on a question raised by Gichugu MP Martha Karua.

While the ministry supplied a list of 900 staff with their qualifications and home districts, it did not indicate any relationship with the Executive as demanded.

Mr Keynan told the minister to liaise with other Government agencies like the NSIS to establish the relationship.

Saitoti argued the question was awkward. "It is not fair for the House to be too intrusive by asking such kind of question. But we will ask to see what is possible," he told the team.

He also said no ambassador had been appointed since the promulgation of the new Constitution.

President’s decision

The minister said the old Constitution gave the President powers to appoint anyone as an ambassador.

"There were no requirements for appointing ambassadors, high commissioners and honorary chanceries. The President could decide who to appoint," he said.

Keynan in particular, wanted to know the relationship between Kenyan ambassador to Lebanon Said Chalubi with the Executive, claiming he does not deserve to be there.

He said Mr Chalubi had been condemned in an earlier report adopted by Parliament over his role in the sale of the Brussels chancery.

"How was he appointed to Beirut if indeed there is vetting in the whole process of appointment of ambassadors? This is the man who sold the chancery in Brussels," he said.

Saitoti, Wamoto, Onyonka and Ndathi could not explain if Chalubi and other ambassadors are related to any member of the Executive.

Keynan then ordered them to look for the information and report to the committee in its next sitting.

The minister said ambassadors go through the Public Service Commission before they are appointed after brief training.

House Committee present were MPs George Nyamweya, Jeremiah Kioni, Fondo Gunda and Charles Kilonzo.