NAIROBI, Kenya – Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has had enough. And on Thursday, during a heated National Assembly session, he let it rip.
The Suna East MP didn’t mince words as he tore into President William Ruto’s latest round of ambassadorial appointments—accusing the government of treating diplomatic posts like a political recycling bin.
This all comes after President Ruto’s new nominations were tabled for approval. Among them? Former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, tapped as Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat in Nairobi.
And Peter Tum, now heading for Kinshasa as ambassador to the DRC. Also in the mix: James Buyekane and Abdi Fidhow, chosen to serve as Consuls General in Guangzhou and Arusha.
Junet’s response? Not so diplomatic.
“You cannot be recycling people who’ve served in high office and then give them another office,” he said, clearly irritated. “When will career diplomats get a chance to serve in our missions?”
It wasn’t just a critique. It was a full-on roast.
MP Junet Mohamed Criticizes Appointment of ‘Recycled Leaders’ to Ambassadorial Positions at the Expense of Career Diplomats at the Foreign Affairs Ministry
Junet argued that politicians and civil servants, once dropped from power, are being “dumped” in foreign missions—positions he believes should go to trained career diplomats who’ve worked their way up the ranks. Many of them, he said, stagnate just before reaching ambassadorial level, only to be passed over for political has-beens.
And he wasn’t done. He cheekily jabbed at his own colleagues, suggesting that if he loses his seat, he too might end up as ambassador. “Keynan is most likely to get a position after the next election,” he quipped, triggering laughter across the chamber.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah attempted to challenge him with a point of order. That didn’t go well.
“Let me do my work as the Minority Leader,” Junet snapped. “There is no broad-based approach on this one.”
He didn’t stop at the current administration either. He traced the trend back to the Jubilee regime, accusing it of beginning the culture of stashing political leftovers in embassies around the world. “Moi didn’t do this. Kibaki didn’t do this. This began in Jubilee,” he claimed, comparing it to “recycling in Dandora West.”
Junet urged President Ruto to tip the balance toward professionals, not politicians. “Out of ten appointments, at least six or seven should be career diplomats,” he said. “Then top up with a few politicians—like Wamuchomba, when she loses Githunguri.”
While Ruto’s office has yet to respond to the backlash, this isn’t the first time the debate around political appointments to foreign missions has sparked tension in Parliament. And with elections on the distant but visible horizon, it likely won’t be the last.
So here we are again. The diplomats are waiting, the politicians are packing, and Junet Mohamed is still shouting into the void—hoping someone, somewhere in State House, is actually listening.
