Mary Gichohi Worth Sh400 Million as 21 New Ambassador Nominees Reveal Their Wealth
The National Assembly on Thursday approved 21 out of the 24 new ambassadors and high commissioners nominated by President Kenyatta in April.
The nominees were required to declare their wealth before being appointed to public office in line with the constitution to allow the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to detect and prevent corruption.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations in a report revealed the net worth of the 21 ambassadorial nominees, with Kenya’s China ambassador-designate Mary Muthoni, 59, emerging as the richest on the list with a net worth of Sh400 million.
Muthoni, a seasoned lawyer, is the chairperson of the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal, a member of several retirement benefits schemes, and a long-serving member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida).
Coming in second is former nominated MP Amina Abdalla with a net worth of Sh340 million. She will take up ambassadorial duties in Oman.
Former Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Principal Secretary Bitange Ndemo, who is headed to Belgium as Kenya’s new ambassador, is the third richest nominee with a net worth of Sh190 million.
He is followed by outgoing National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai, who revealed that his wealth is Sh151 million. Sialia has been nominated as Kenya’s new ambassador to Namibia.
Gitonga Chege, who will take up ambassadorial duties in Cuba, and ambassador-designate to Qatar Boniface Mwilu are next on the list with a net worth of Sh150 million each. Major General George Owino, who is headed to Kampala as Kenya’s ambassador to Uganda, is seventh with a net worth of Sh140 million.
Charles Gituai (IGAD), Clement Nzomo (Angola), Paul Ndung’u (Mozambique), Galma Boru (Indonesia), and Leonard Boiyo (Turkey) all declared that they are worth Sh100 million.
Richard Bosire (UNESCO) and Michael Okoth (Spain) declared said they are worth Sh75 million while Mary Kamau (Pakistan) and Mary Wangui (Australia) are worth Sh97 million and Sh70 million respectively.
Thomas Chepkuto, who will take up duties in Somalia, said that his net assets are worth Sh58.6 million.