Kenyan Ambassador Evicted, Attachés in Belgium and Germany Unpaid for Six Months

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua says several Kenyan attachés in Belgium and Germany have gone for six months without salaries and are struggling to make ends meet.

Mutua, who spoke on Thursday when he appeared before the National Assembly Defense and Foreign Relations Committee, said the attachés are now facing eviction due to lack of funds.

“Our attaches have not been paid for the last six months. Some of them have been threatened with eviction,” Mutua said.

“Shortly we will be visiting the missions outside the country. Some of them are living in very deplorable conditions.”

The cabinet secretary also noted that one of the Kenyan ambassadors has already been evicted from their house due to rent arrears.

“We have seen his (ambassador) video clip circulating. He has gone into alcohol as a result. It is very important that we look into this,” Mutua said.

Mutua’s remarks come after President Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua admitted that the government was struggling to pay salaries for civil servants due to mounting debts. 

"I know we had an issue of delayed salaries which is the first time that we are having that but it is also the first time we are having monumental debts," Ruto said on Tuesday.

Ruto reiterated that his administration will not rely on borrowing to finance recurrent expenditures, stating that the country must live within its means.

"All I assure the country is that we are not going to borrow for recurrent expenditure including salaries. That is the position of the government of Kenya. We will not do that. We will look for our taxes...We have to live within our means,” he added.