PCS Musalia Mudavadi leads UDA campaigns in Malava./HANDOUT

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is facing public backlash after he announced foreign service appointments for two UDA aspirants who lost in the Malava primaries.

Critics accuse Mudavadi, who doubles up as the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, of blatant political patronage on the campaign trail.

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During a rally in Kakamega on Monday, Mudavadi announced Simon Kangwana as education attaché in Kampala and Ryan Injendi Malulu as trade attaché in Pretoria.

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Their appointments were read out on stage, to cheers from supporters, with Mudavadi urging voters to “do their part” by backing the pro-government candidate Thursday.

 

Both had contested and lost the UDA nomination for the Malava by-election. However, they were promised government positions by President William Ruto in exchange for backing David Ndakwa, the UDA candidate

 

The move has, however, triggered reactions from different quarters, with critics accusing Mudavadi of abusing foreign-service appointments to sway voters.

 

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi (ODM), who is also a member of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, warned against politicising such critical appointments.

 

“We can do politics all we want, but playing around with lives of young people with UDA lies must stop. The appointment of trade and education attachés is not dished out on the campaign trail. They are seconded by various ministries,” Amisi said.

 

He added that the move is unfair to other jobless graduates, interns in ministries, and those already working for the government, noting that a loss in a primary is not a qualification for consideration.

 

“Do you want all youth in Kenya on internships, working in ministries and those who have graduated to run for elections, drop their bid midway and get employment letter on a WhatsApp?” he posed.

 

A senior diplomat at Foreign Affairs who spoke in confidence noted that while there have been previous political appointees for the attaché’ role, the manner in which the recent appointments were done registers a “regrettable precedent”.

 

“Even for the political appointees, there should have some honour in that process because it reflects really badly on how we are conducting our foreign service and the calibre of those we are sending abroad. I am aware a number of our education attaches have had a political link, but when you look at their CVs, these are people who have worked extensively in the education sector,” the diplomat said.

 

Kangwana is a former teacher and high school principal.

 

He further regretted that the move also goes opposite of the Sessional Paper No.1 2025 on Kenya Foreign Policy, which is clear on recruitment to foreign service.

 

The Sessional Paper notes that there is a need to develop a well-educated, vibrant, and motivated foreign service. This, it notes, will require “clear recruitment and promotion parameters based on equity and inclusiveness”.

 

“The Foreign Service Personnel Scheme and fundamental Public Service Commission guidelines need to be harmonised with the constitution to develop the criteria relating to the recruitment and career progression of foreign service personnel. This will require the review of the Scheme of Service for Foreign Service Officers including development of career progression guidelines,” the policy says.

 

Additionally, the diplomat noted that such a move is likely to demoralise officers who would otherwise be seconded for the top jobs, with the move suggesting competence and experience are not a consideration.

 

Governance expert Tom Mboya echoed the same thoughts, saying the roadside announcement of the hiring was “a terrible precedent and completely demoralising”.

 

“Those who have followed the career path will be usurped by these types of freebies handed out to undeserving and unqualified politicos … This is why mediocrity will reign supreme under this administration,” Mboya said reacting to the announcement.

 

“What happens to those who have actually been on the career path, when they are set aside in favour of political deals? Clearly service delivery is not even a consideration here”.

 

Consumers Federation of Kenya Secretary General Stephen Mutoro termed the appointments as “vote buying”.

 

“Call it what it is: rigging by another name. No application, no competitiveness, and flatly against Articles 10 (national values and principles of governance) and Article 232 [values and principles of Public Service. If they [UDA] lose, will the appointment be cancelled?” he posed.  

 

Article 232(1)(g), mandates that public service appointments and promotions be based on "fair competition and merit".

Circumventing the formal recruitment process through the Public Service Commission for political reasons is a breach of this principle.

During the announcement rally, Mudavadi called the two men on stage and had them read their appointment letters straight from his phone.

Mudavadi urged residents to “honour their part of the agreement” by voting for the UDA candidate, stressing that electing a ruling-party MP would ease access to government services and development projects. Critics say the appointments amount to the use of state functions as bargaining chips in an election campaign.