The National Assembly on Thursday approved 21 out of the 24 new ambassadors and high commissioners nominated by President Kenyatta in April.
The nominees were required to declare their wealth before being appointed to public office in line with the constitution to allow the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to detect and prevent corruption.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations in a report revealed the net worth of the 21 ambassadorial nominees, with Kenya’s China ambassador-designate Mary Muthoni, 59, emerging as the richest on the list with a net worth of Sh400 million.
Muthoni, a seasoned lawyer, is the chairperson of the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal, a member of several retirement benefits schemes, and a long-serving member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida).
Coming in second is former nominated MP Amina Abdalla with a net worth of Sh340 million. She will take up ambassadorial duties in Oman.
Former Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Principal Secretary Bitange Ndemo, who is headed to Belgium as Kenya’s new ambassador, is the third richest nominee with a net worth of Sh190 million.
He is followed by outgoing National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai, who revealed that his wealth is Sh151 million. Sialia has been nominated as Kenya’s new ambassador to Namibia.
Gitonga Chege, who will take up ambassadorial duties in Cuba, and ambassador-designate to Qatar Boniface Mwilu are next on the list with a net worth of Sh150 million each. Major General George Owino, who is headed to Kampala as Kenya’s ambassador to Uganda, is seventh with a net worth of Sh140 million.
Charles Gituai (IGAD), Clement Nzomo (Angola), Paul Ndung’u (Mozambique), Galma Boru (Indonesia), and Leonard Boiyo (Turkey) all declared that they are worth Sh100 million.
Richard Bosire (UNESCO) and Michael Okoth (Spain) declared said they are worth Sh75 million while Mary Kamau (Pakistan) and Mary Wangui (Australia) are worth Sh97 million and Sh70 million respectively.
Thomas Chepkuto, who will take up duties in Somalia, said that his net assets are worth Sh58.6 million.
Currently the Kenyan…
Currently the Kenyan Ambassador earns 300k monthly but how do these become so wealthy like that?
The RICH swill keep getting…
The RICH swill keep getting Richer! That’s Kenya’s motto!
If I had the power,I would…
If I had the power,I would hire a the most qualified person for that post less the wealth.And they would have to sign a contract stipulating that they are open to their financial accounts audited periodically to make sure there are not questionable fund flowing in.And if found circumventing the process by hiding money in other accounts,you get a minimum of ten years in jail.The choice is yours.
My question would be what…
My question would be what does “assets” mean? If the house they live in is included, then remove 20 – 50 million from their declared assets then evaluate them from there. People have to live somewhere.
Houses, even the ones you…
Houses, even the ones you live in are considered part of your net wealth if you have equity or if your mortgage is fully paid up. Now throw in your investments, bank accounts, other real estate holdings. Soldieron, that means that by Kenyan standards, you are a multi millionaire. You might want to change your name to Gītonga.
Why should you remove the…
Why should you remove the house from the assets? If you rent, the house then its not an asset,its an expense.If your house is 10,000 shillings, then that part goes on your balance sheet. I dont see any problem.But you are free to air your opinion.
A donkey is an asset much like a Jaguar is -pun intended.
Should one be a millionaire…
Should one be a millionaire to qualify to be an ambassador? How about those who are poor and have the qualifications other than money? Seems like the poor will remain poor perpetually. Is it because the millionaires buy favors through making donations to the campaigns of their nominating bosses? Some thing smells here?
Why so many nomination what…
Why so many nomination what happens to career diplomats ? well the nominated are the chosen ones the competent ones they are a nobody this is legacy of Kenya culture