Former West Mugirango MP Vincent Mogaka Kemosi on Tuesday declined President William Ruto’s ambassadorial nomination.
Kemosi, a lawyer by profession, was among the latest ambassadorial nominees by President Ruto and was to be Kenya’s High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana.
Through a letter to the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, Kemosi said he would not appear for vetting as he had declined the nomination. He cited personal and family reasons.
“I wish to inform you that I will not appear before the said Committee at the time and the venue specified for a formal hearing”.
“This has been occasioned by my personal and compelling family matters which after taking into consideration, do not allow me to take up the position as the High Commissioner to Ghana as nominated by President on March 9, 2024,” the letter read by Committee chairman Nelson Koech said.
“Therefore, to save the precious time of this important Parliamentary business and as per the provision of the Act aforementioned kindly note and this letter serves as notice not to appear. I thank you for your invitation”
The Committee was forced to adjourn the morning session, with Koech (Belgut) saying, “In brief, he has declined his nomination as our ambassador (sic) nominee to Accra, Ghana”.
In the appointments that the courts termed unconstitutional, President Ruto had appointed Kemosi as CAS Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.
PREVIOUS REJECTIONS
In 2018, two diplomatic nominees also declined then President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination to be envoys.
His constitutional affairs adviser and former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed declined appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador to South Korea citing personal reasons.
Abdikadir opted to run his legal firm in Kenya and also cited his young family at the time.
Former Kenya Rural Road Authority Director General John Ogango also declined Uhuru’s ambassadorial nomination citing personal reasons.
President Kenyatta had not indicated the capital Ogango would head to.
He had been nominated alongside former Migori Senator Wilfred Machage, now deceased, who was posted to Nigeria, former Sports PS Richard Ekai, who was to go to Russia but did not assume the position due to a corruption case, and former Lagdera MP Mohammed Shidiye, who was posted to Botswana.
