By PSCU
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has conducted approval hearings (vetting) of four of the 27 persons nominated by the President to serve as Ambasadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives of the Republic.
The four who appeared before the committee on the first day of vetting were Ms. Jane Wairimu Ndurumo (Pretoria, South Africa), Ambasador Isaac Keen Parashina (Abuja, Nigeria), Ms. Janet Mwawasi (Kigali, Rwanda) and Mr. Peter Munyiri (New Delhi, India).
During the approval hearings, members led by Chairperson Nelson Koech (Belgut) interrogated the nominees on their academic qualifications and professional competence for the job.
The committee also ascertained their clearance by relevant institutions; including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) and Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
The MPs sought to know from the nominees any public offices they had previously held as well as wealth declaration including deferred income and outside commitments and tax status. Members also sought to know any potential conflicts of interest among the members.
During the vetting, Ms. Ndurumo pledged to strengthen trade toes between Kenya and South Africa even given the nod by the Committee and the National Assembly to serve as Kenya’s Ambasador to Pretoria.
Mr. Parashina, who is presently the Deputy Head of Kenyan Mission to Tel Aviv, Israel, said he would entrench trade, security and diplomatic ties between Kenya and Nigeria if approved to serve as Kenya’s Ambasador in Abuja.
He also said he would entrench deeper collaborations between the creative industries of both nations to allow Kenyan youths in the creative industry to tap into Nigeria’s well established Nollywood film industry.
Ms. Mwawasi, told the committee that if approved for appointment she would use the position as Kenya’s Ambasador to Rwanda, to foster efforts for integration of the larger East-African community.
Mr. Munyiri, said, that he would if approved, work closely with the Ministry of Trade to close the gap in the balance of trade between Kenya and India, if approved for appointment as Kenya’s High Commissioners in New Delhi.
Koech told the nominees that the committee would retreat to critically interrogate the nominees responses against their credentials before drafting the approval report to be tabled in the House.
“Should the committee require any more information from the nominees, including sworn affidavits, you as the nominee should be ready to avail the same as we conclude this process,” said Koech.
The vetting continues with four slotted each day for the process expected to be concluded on Thursday 2nd November, 2023.
The committee, is subsequently expected to table its Report on or before November 8, 2023, to enable the House consider the matter within the Statutory timelines.