Lobbying for global jobs dealt a blow as 3 of 10 Kenyans succeed

Nairobi’s lobbying for Kenyans seeking jobs at international organisations had the worst performance this year under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration with the prominent miss being the pursuit of African Union Commission chairperson, Foreign Affairs documents reveal.

The documents, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, indicate that government-backed officials lost seven of the 10 positions sought in international organisations in the year to June, reflecting a 30 per cent success rate.

This was the worst performance under Mr Kenyatta who was elected into office in 2013.

In the first year of the Kenyatta administration, all the eight candidates fronted for international jobs were successful.

They included former Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi, tapped in May 2013 to lead Unctad, the UN trade and development body.

A similar 100 per cent success was replicated in the two years that followed, which saw nine Kenyans take up top jobs in organisations like the International Telecommunications Union, British Commonwealth, and International Renewable Energy Agency.

“Over the last three and half years the ministry coordinated lobbying for 27 Kenyans for international positions,” the Foreign Affairs ministry says in its budget submission to Parliament.

“Some of the positive impacts to Kenya include; exerting soft power influence, framing and shaping policy in those organisations, pursuing Kenya’s national interests and Africa’s agenda, as well as reinforcing Kenya’s profile and position in the globe,” the ministry adds.

Only three Kenyans out of the 10 candidates bagged top international positions in the current year ending June.

They include Busia Senator Amos Wako who secured membership at the International Law Commission (ILC), Mr Bishar Hussein (director-general at Universal Postal Union), while Mr Philip Owade clinched a post on the UN staff pension fund.