The International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK) is backing a proposed amendment to the Foreign Service Act that would prioritize career diplomats for ambassadorial appointments.

• The draft Foreign Service (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna, suggests that career diplomats should hold no more than 70 percent of positions in foreign missions, capping non-career appointees at 30 percent.
• This move aims to strengthen professionalism and merit-based appointments, addressing the current trend where political rejects often receive these posts.
• The IRSK emphasizes the need for competence and expertise in contemporary diplomacy, advocating for a shift away from political expediency in Kenya's top diplomatic postings.