NEW ENVOYS

Twenty five new ambassadors begin their tour of duty in a month.

The Foreign affairs ministry on Tuesday said the 25 had been hired in a transparent process.

“The recruitment was carried out professionally and according to us, there were no controversial appointments,” said Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka.

He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 54 senior officers from his ministry being sent to missions abroad.

The officials took a two-week induction course at the Kenya Institute of Administration.

Out of the 25 envoys appointed by President Kibaki, 12 were chosen from diplomatic circles, said Mr Onyonka.

The appointees are Dr Josephine Ojiambo (deputy resident representative, New York), Mr Benson Ogutu (Tokyo), Ms Monica Juma (AU headquarters in Addis Ababa), Mr Ken Osinde (Berlin, Germany), Mr Kipyego Cheluget (Lusaka, Zambia), Mr Paul Kibiwott Kurgat (Moscow, Russia), Mr Mohamed Ali Saleh (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Mr Galma Boru (Doha, Qatar), Mr Rashid Ali (Tehran, Iran), Ms Josephine Gaita (Rome, Italy), Mr Peter Kirimi Kaberia (Brazil), Mr Elkanah Odembo (Washington DC, US), Mr Anthony Andanje (deputy resident representative in Geneva, Switzerland), Ms Josephine Awuor (Harare, Zimbabwe), Ms Jean Kimani (Great Lakes), Mr Dave Arunga (Cairo, Egypt), Ms Salma Ahmed (Paris, France), Mr Samori Ang’wa Okwiya (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Mr Bramwel Kisuya (Madrid, Spain), Lt Gen Augustino S.K. Njoroge (Tel Aviv, Israel), Mr Peter Gitau (Windhoek, Namibia), Ms Makena Muchiri (Kigali, Rwanda), Mr James Ochami (Kinshasa, D.R. Congo), Mr Cleland Leshore (Juba, Southern Sudan) and Mr Anthony Muchiri (Tripoli, Libya).

Until a week ago the identities of the envoys had been secret.

Early this year, the government recalled 14 envoys and more than 100 junior staffers from Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Zambia and the United States, among other countries, without giving reasons.

The recalled envoys were expected back in the country last week while the junior staff, who include education attaches and accountants are expected home next month.