Editor's Review

The ambassador who accompanied Stephen Munyakho to Kenya has been reassigned to another role in Tanzania.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei has dismissed claims that President William Ruto demoted Kenya's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange.

The president made changes in Kenya's foreign mission, appointing new ambassadors and reassigning others.

Ruwange, who was Kenya's ambassador in Riyadh for close to two years, was reassigned to the role of consul general in Arusha, Tanzania.

Taking over from him will be Ambassador Joseph Musyoka Masila.

While in Riyadh, Ruwange stepped up efforts to rescue Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who faced a death sentence after conviction of murder.

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Ambassador Mohammed Ruwange with Stephen Munyakho.

Mwangi Maina, a Kenyan journalist with a speciality in diplomacy and foreign affairs, observed that Ruwange's reassignment was akin to demotion, as he was being taken from an ambassadorial role to a consul general, which is of a lower diplomatic rank.

"President Ruto reshuffles Kenya’s diplomatic deck, demoting his envoy to Saudi Arabia to a consul general post just weeks after the diplomat helped secure the release of a Kenyan national facing execution in the Gulf kingdom," he said.

However, Sing'oei said the reassignment was strategic.

He said that Ruwange was tapped to lead the efforts in aligning Kenya's interests in the East African Community.

"Quite to the contrary. To serve as the country’s main interlocutor in our engagement with the EAC, our core economic and political partner, is the highest honour and a seal of approval," Sing'oei said.

In his new roles, Ruwange will oversee consular services and trade for Kenyans in Tanzania, a smaller scope compared to when he was ambassador.

Meanwhile, as earlier indicated, Ruwange played a pivotal role in securing the release of Munyakho, who was due for execution in Saudi Arabia.

The Kenyan man had been convicted of killing a Saudi national with whom he worked.

Ruwange was part of the Kenyan mission that negotiated with the aggrieved family to be lenient in their claims.

The family agreed to take blood money in place of Munyakho's execution.

The amount was raised, and the Kenyan was allowed back.

He landed in the country on July 29 in the company of Ruwange.