Details of New Bill Seeking to Compel Ruto to Hire Career Diplomats

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Nelson Koech, met to consider the draft Foreign Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Mwingi West MP, Charles Nguna Ngusya, during pre-publication scrutiny.

The legislative proposal seeks to amend the Foreign Service Act, Cap 185E, to ensure that a higher percentage of Kenya’s ambassadors, high commissioners, and permanent representatives are drawn from career diplomats.

According to the draft Bill, the composition of diplomatic appointments would comprise not more than 70% career diplomats and not more than 30% non-career diplomats, aligning with the Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025 on the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Kenya.

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Currently, Section 20 of the Foreign Service Act provides that such appointments should reflect a “fair balance” between career and non-career diplomats.

Committee Members noted that the Constitution under Article 132(2)(e) mandates the President to nominate and appoint ambassadors and high commissioners with the approval of the National Assembly.

The Committee is expected to receive submissions from the Office of the Attorney General and the Kenya Law Reform Commission.

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A panel of Defense Committee discussing about drafting new foreign bill on November 11, 2025 at the National Assembly. PHOTO/PK FB