‘I can’t tell my parents where to deliver me!’ Uhuru’s choice for envoy hits back at MPs

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Mwende Mwinzi: Uhuru’s nominee for South Korea envoy job.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s choice for Kenya High Commissioner to Seoul, South Korea has been given a choice to renounce her United States of America citizenship if she wants the job.

The nominee, Mwende Mwinzi who as approved by the National Assembly Defence Committee was given the condition based on provisions of the Integrity Act.

The Defence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Kajiado South MP Katoo ole Metito, vetted seven nominees last week and yesterday, it presented its report to the House recommending the appointment of the nominees but with a disclaimer on Ms Mwinzi’s approval.

“The committee recommends that Ms Mwinzi be appointed subject to her renouncing her US citizenship,” said Mr Metito.

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Section 31 (1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act provides that a State officer who acquires dual citizenship shall lose the position.

Subsection two says that a person who holds dual citizenship shall, upon election or appointment to a State office, not take office before officially renouncing their other citizenship in accordance with the provisions of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act.

But Ms Mwinzi defended herself saying she did not have powers to choose where to be born.

I was born in the US but I belong to Kenya. You can choose where to belong but you cannot choose where to be born.

I cannot tell my parents to conceive me and deliver me elsewhere,” she said.

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She also emphasized that her loyalty lies with Kenya noting that she had participated in more Kenyan elections than US ones.

“I am a Kenyan through and through. I speak fluent Kamba and Kiswahili,” she stated.

The committee’s recommendation on her appointment is founded under Section 31 (1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which provides that a State officer who acquires dual citizenship shall lose his or her position as a State officer.

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Mwinzi in one of her Jubilee campaign posters

Mwinzi vied for the Mwingi West parliamentary seat during the 2017 General Election where she contested on a Jubilee Party ticket.

“I am humbled by the warmth the people of Mwingi West have received me with. If you remember, I have been working with many of them in the last 10 to 15 years and so I am not a stranger,” she was quoted then.

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