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Kenya's Germany ambassador speaks on salary delay, denies house eviction

"Government owns Kenya House, so no one can be evicted."

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by LAURA SHATUMA

News15 April 2023 - 05:59
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In Summary


  • The committee Chair Nelson Koech laid bare many foreign diplomats who had gone for six months without pay.
  • A diplomat who spoke to the Star confirmed that they were last paid by the regime of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenya's Ambassador to Germany Tom Amolo

Kenya's Ambassador to Germany Tom Amolo has denied reports that he was evicted from his house over rent dues.

In a tweet, Amolo said the Kenyan government owns a house in Germany where he leaves adding that the reports on eviction are misleading.

"I have seen incredible fiction that I have been evicted from Kenya House, Berlin and that we have not been paid our salaries. First Kenya government owns Kenya House, so no one can be evicted," Amolo said.

This comes after it emerged that Kenyan diplomats had not been paid for six months.

National Assembly Committee on Defence Intelligence and Foreign Affairs on Thursday exposed the untold sufferings of Kenyan diplomats after CS Alfred Mutua appeared before the committee.

Amolo, however, denied the salary reports saying theirs are up to date.

"Second our salaries from the foreign office are up to date, cease and desist, "Amolo said.

The committee Chair Nelson Koech laid bare many foreign diplomats who had gone for six months without pay.

“Our attaches abroad have not been paid for the past six months. Some of them have been threatened with eviction. They are living in very deplorable conditions,” Koech told the committee when the CS appeared before them.

The committee raised concerns about how it was possible for Kenyans not paid for six months to survive.

Koech said the delay could cause unimaginable embarrassment to the country as the envoys represent the face of the country.

A diplomat who spoke to the Star confirmed that they were last paid by the regime of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The ambassador, who sought anonymity, agreed with the presentation of MP Koech on their plight saying things are getting out of hand for them.

"We were last paid by Uhuru's government. Speaking for myself and colleagues, we were last paid in September," the ambassador said.

When reached to comment on the developments, CS Mutua said they have cleared all salaries.

He did not deny that the ambassadors had gone for six months without pay.

"There was an initial delay in payments but currently, all Kenyan diplomats have been paid. We do not have a single payment. If there is, please get me specifics and I will follow up to find out why," the CS said.

In his presentation before the National Assembly committee, Mutua agreed that indeed there was some delay in the payment.

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