Ledama Attacks Chief of Staff Over 'Ethnic Bias' in Ambassadorial Appointments

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina/HANDOUT

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has accused Kenya’s Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei, of ethnic favoritism in the recent ambassadorial appointments, describing the process as a betrayal of every Kenyan sidelined.

In a post shared on X, Ledama criticized the appointments, saying they disproportionately favored just five ethnic groups.

“Kenya’s top leadership preaches inclusivity, yet your lists shamelessly favor just five ethnic groups. This isn’t just biased, it’s a betrayal of every Kenyan who’s been sidelined,” he wrote.

Ledama further pointed out that other countries appoint diplomats with a broader representation to reflect diversity and dignity.

“You advise the President, yet you’re blind to this injustice. This is not leadership; it’s ethnic favoritism on full display. Do you honestly believe in the broad-based government?” he questioned.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. (Standard)

The senator’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about inclusivity and representation in government appointments, with critics frequently calling for a more equitable distribution across Kenya’s ethnic spectrum.

While the appointments were intended to fill key diplomatic positions, Ledama’s attack signals rising tension over perceptions of ethnic imbalance in high-level government roles.

His remarks follow Kenya’s recent announcement of ambassadorial appointments, which are positions where individuals represent the country in foreign missions and international organizations.

Among those nominated by President William Ruto was former Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore, who has been appointed as Kenya's ambassador to Windhoek, Namibia, as part of the new appointments and redeployments in the Foreign Service.

In a statement released by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Friday, August 15, the head of state announced 20 total changes to the Service, highlighting the necessity to optimize performance and improve service delivery.

The nominees are now before the National Assembly for vetting and approval, as per constitutional requirements. Once approved, they will assume their respective ambassadorial roles.