Junet Mohammed, the Minority Leader in Kenya’s National Assembly, has openly criticized President William Ruto’s administration for appointing politicians to ambassadorial positions. During a parliamentary session on April 17, 2025, Junet expressed his disapproval of what he termed as the “recycling of failed politicians” into diplomatic roles. He argued that such appointments undermine the career growth of professional diplomats who have dedicated their lives to serving the nation.
Junet’s remarks were ignited by president Ruto’s recent nominations, which included former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumincha as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN- Habitat in Nairobi and Peter Tum as ambassador to Kinshasa, DRC. Junet stated that the appointments favour political loyalty over merit, leaving the qualified sidelined. He also emphasized that this trend demoralizes civil servants who put in the effort to get the ranks within the diplomatic services.
The minority leader however proposed a solution to this issue. He suggested that for every ten diplomatic appointments, atleast seven should be reserved for career diplomats. He argued that this approach would ensure that the expertise and dedication of professional diplomats ae recognized and awarded.
Junet’s criticism also extended to the broader implications of such appointments. He highlighted how the practice of recycling politicians into diplomatic roles began during the Jubilee regime and has continued under President Ruto’s administration. He called for an end to this culture, urging the government to prioritize competence and professionalism in its appointments.
Despite Junet’s strong opposition, some lawmakers defended the nominations. Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, for instance, supported Nakhumicha’s appointment, arguing that her regime as Health CS laid a solid foundation for her new role. This defence, however, did not sway Junet, but remained steadfast in his critique of the administration’s approach to diplomatic appointments.
