Amidst the ongoing vetting process for ambassadorial nominees, David Kiplagat Kerich, nominated by President William Ruto found himself under scrutiny by the National Assembly.
Kerich, who is slated for the Kenya Embassy in Washington DC, was grilled by the Departmental Committee on Foreign Relations.
The committee’s interrogation delved into Kerich’s diplomatic experience and his ability to navigate the intricate terrain of US-Kenya relations.
Yusuf Hassan, representing Kamukunji, posed questions regarding Kerich’s experience in handling intricate diplomatic matters.
“The position of ambassador to the state of USA, is the most important position any diplomat can aspire to, you will be representing us in the capital city of one of the global superpowers where most countries will send their most serious and top diplomat.”
“But looking at your CV, and experience, you are completely underwhelming, you have no experience in diplomacy, your knowledge of diplomatic relations is almost zero, do you have what it takes to represent the country in Washington DC? posed Yusuf Hassan.
Kerich Responds to Qualification/ Integrity Concerns
Kerich in the probe, assured the committee of his extensive background in international relations, expressing optimism about his capacity to champion Kenya’s interests effectively in the United States.
“I have the ability to learn even as a lawyer, I have no doubt I will be able to act and play my role well in representing my country well in USA.” he said.
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However, Kerich’s past roles as a lawyer and former Baringo County Assembly Speaker took center stage, notably due to an adverse report from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) linking him to irregularities in a significant rehabilitation project valued at Ksh 100 million in Baringo County.
Fredrick Lusuli, the MP for Shinyalu, seized the opportunity to press Kerich further on these allegations.
“Mr. Kerich, how do you respond to the allegations of irregularities in the Baringo project? he posed.
In response, Kerich maintained his innocence, affirming his full cooperation with any investigative processes to clear his name from the accusations.
“It is the collective action of the Board of Baringo County to act on the matter, the presumption is your innocence until proven guilty, what we have is allegations, and that the issues being talked about is not on an individual person, but affecting the whole Public Service Board which I was a chair in, and this are issues raised long time ago when I was a speaker in 2020-21, and my position is I have a clean record,” stated Kerich.
Probe Continues to Expose More Nominees
The proceedings have revealed challenges and complexities in the vetting process for the 27 diplomatic appointments made by President Ruto.
Also Read: Ruto Nominee Faces First Hurdle to Plum Job After Damning Letter
According to the departmental committee probing the ambassadorial nominees, Integrity and transparency emerged as paramount considerations, with nominees expected not only to possess requisite skills but also to uphold the highest ethical standards.
Nominees for Abu Dhabi, Accra, Muscat, and the United Nations Environmental Program are scheduled to appear before the committee for vetting process on Tuesday, 9 April.
