President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated 24 individuals who are going to be Kenya’s new ambassadors and high commissioner to various countries across the world. According to the constitution of Kenya, these individuals are required to declare their net worth to help the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to prevent corruption. On Thursday 26th May 2022 the Parliamentary committee on Defense and Foreign Relations published publicly the net worth of the 21 ambassadors who approved for appointments.
Here is the list of the richest Kenyan ambassadors and High Commissioners as compiled by WoK.
Mary Muthoni
In the report released by the parliamentary committee, Mary Muthoni who is Kenya’s China ambassador-designate came in first with a net worth of Ksh 400 million. Muthoni is a businesswoman, seasoned lawyer and advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over 30 years of vast experience. She is the chairperson of the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal and a member of several retirement benefits schemes. The 59 year old is the longest serving member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida).
Amina Abdalla
Following closely in the list is Amina Abdalla who will be Kenya’s ambassador to Oman, with a net worth of Ksh 340 million. Amina is a former nominated Member of Parliament and holds the record of the politician who has been nominated to the house most times. Her first employment was in 1993 at GTZ – a German government development agency through which she was involved in rescue activities at Dadaab refugee camp. She went on to become a regional coordinator at World Conservation Union before quitting in 2002 to join the political field. She would later get nominated continuously from 2003 to 2013.
Bitange Ndemo
Bitange Ndemo, the Kenyan envoy-designate to Belgium, came in third with a net worth of Ksh 190 million. Bitange is the former Information, Communication and Technology Principal Secretary who served from 2013 to 2017. He is a columnist with the Daily Nation newspaper and its subsidiary, Business Daily. He currently serves as Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Business School at the University of Nairobi.
Also Read: Bitange Ndemo: The Former PS Who Was Abandoned By Friends After Losing Job, Now Ambassador
Michael Sialai
Fourth on the list is Michael Sialai, CBS who will be leading the Kenyan envoy in Namibia, with a net worth of Ksh 151 million. Michael is the sixth and outgoing Clerk of the National Assembly who has been in the position since 22nd March 2017. He began his career as a teacher in 1989 at Kimulot Secondary School before becoming an assistant Lecturer at Kericho Teachers Training College. In 1995 he was appointed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and posted to the National Assembly as assistant clerk. He has since risen through the ranks to become the sixth clerk of the National Assembly of Kenya.
Gitonga Chege
Gitonga Chege who is Kenya’s ambassador-designate to Cuba came in fifth with a net worth of Ksh 150 million. Gitonga is the former Director of Liaison, Parliamentary and County Affairs and members of Staff.
Boniface Mwilu
Boniface Mwilu is Qatar’s ambassador-designate came in sixth with a net worth of Ksh 150 million. Boniface will replace Paddy Ahenda who passed away earlier this month.
Major General George Owino
In the seventh position came Major General George Owino with a net worth of Ksh 140 million. Owino is headed to Uganda. Owino is the former Kenya Military Academy Commandant.
At position eight there was a four-way split which included Charles Gituai headed to IGAD, Clement Nzomo who will be in Angola, Paul Ndung’u moving to Mozambique, Galma Boru in Indonesia and Leonard Boiyo who will be in Turkey. All these individuals declared their net worth to be Ksh 100 million.
Other ambassadors who declared their wealth include Richard Bosire headed to UNESCO and Michael Okoth moving to Spain. Their net worth was Ksh 75 million. At Ksh 97 million was Mary Kamau of Pakistan and Mary Wangui of Australia at Ksh 70 million. The last on the list was Thomas Chepkuto who is headed to Somalia with a net worth of Ksh 58.6 million.
