President Kenyatta Appoints a New Ambassador to Berlin

In an announcement made by the Monica Juma, CS of Foreign Affairs, last week, President Kenya has made various changes at Kenyan embassies across the world in an attempt to change Kenya’s image abroad.

In the statement released President Kenyatta promoted officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the position of ambassador, appointed new ambassadors, fired some and relocated the rest. Among the ambassadors affected in this is the Kenyan Embassy in Berlin. 

Little known, Lamarron ole Kaanto, is set to replace Joseph Magutt in Berlin. Magutt was appointed ambasssador to Germany, Romania and Bulgaria in 2014, having handed in his credentials in 2015.

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READ: Kenyan Ambassador Presents Credentials to the German President

Ms. Juma also announced the promotion of Esther Mungai, an officer currently posted in Berlin to the position of ambassador.

The shuffle in embassy staffing seems to be the president’s response to complaints from the diaspora about some of the missions. Many of the changes will be affecting the Kenyan missions in Europe.

• Robinson Njeru Githae replaces Hassan Wario in Vienna, Austria
• Michael Mubea replaces Richard Opembe in Dublin in Ireland
• Richard Opembe replaces Severine Luyali in Barcelona in Spain
• Diana Kiambuthi replaces Dr Joseph Sang in Stockholm, Sweden
• Jackline Yonga replaces Harriet Nduma in Rome, Italy

Promotions of officers to ambassador in Europe include:

• Joshua Mugodo (Brussels, Belgium)
• Lucy Njeri Kiruthu (Geneva, Switzerland)
• Hellen Adhiambo Gichuhi (UNESCO in Paris, France)
• Stella Mokaya Orina (Vienna)

President Kenyatta also made good of his promise to the Swiss President to open a new mission in Bern in addition to the one in Geneva, Switzerland by naming Andrew Kihurani, as the first ambassador to head it.

READ: Kenya to Open a Second Embassy in Bern, Switzerland