Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Margaret Nyambura has officially rejected her nomination as Kenya’s ambassador to Ghana, citing personal reasons. In a letter addressed to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, Nyambura informed the committee that she would not appear for the approval hearings scheduled for her nomination, which were being conducted by Belgut MP Nelson Koech’s committee. She explained her decision with a simple statement: “To save precious time of the committee, this letter serves as notice that I will not attend.”
Nyambura’s rejection of the Ghana ambassadorial position marks the second time in a row that a nominee has declined to take up the post. Last year, former West Mugirango MP Vincent Mogaka Kemosi also turned down his nomination as Kenya’s High Representative to Accra. The repeated rejections are proving to be a setback for the government’s diplomatic appointments to Ghana, a post that has remained unfilled for an extended period.
Nyambura’s decision to step back from the nomination follows her abrupt removal from the ICT Ministry, a move that occurred after the youth-led protests that swept across the country. She had served as the ICT Cabinet Secretary for just four months before her dismissal. Her rejection of the ambassadorial role comes at a time when several other key appointments were made, including Ababu Namwamba’s nomination to the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Andrew Karanja’s nomination to Brazil, and Noor Gabow’s nomination to Haiti.
Nyambura’s absence from the approval hearings adds a layer of uncertainty to the already complicated diplomatic appointments process. While she refrains from giving more detailed reasons for her decision, the move has raised questions regarding the selection process and the challenges the government faces in filling key diplomatic posts abroad.
As the country seeks to strengthen its foreign relations, especially with African nations like Ghana, these delays and rejections could impact Kenya’s diplomatic efforts in the region. The government’s focus may now shift to finding a new candidate for the position, ensuring that the country’s representation in Accra is filled in a timely and effective manner.
