The Interior ministry is entangled in a war of words with a constitutional commission over the renewal of Ombudsman Otiende Amollo’s diplomatic passport.
The Commission on Administrative Justice wrote to the ministry seeking assistance in renewing the passport issued in 2012.
But the ministry rejected the request on grounds Amollo’s position as the CAJ chairman does not entitle him to exclusive travel documents.
“Under the third schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, the chair of the Commission on Administrative Justice is not entitled to a diplomatic passport,” the letter from the ministry to the CAJ reads.
It is dated February 4 and signed by Director of Immigration Services Gordon Kihalangwa.
Amollo was issued the diplomatic passport with the assistance of the Foreign Affairs ministry to facilitate his frequent travels to represent the CAJ in international forums.
He is the secretary general of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association.
Often times, the African Union has turned to the association as a vehicle for pushing good governance on the continent.
The CAJ protested the failure by the ministry to renew the passport, saying they are not seeking a new one.
“The regulations imply the passport remains valid until Otiende ceases to hold office or at the expiry of 10 years,” the CAJ said.
