Govt denies paying MK10 million monthly rentals for Malawi’s Ambassador to Kenya

The government of Malawi through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has refuted media reports indicating that for the past two years it has been paying 10 million a month as rent for the house of Malawi’s Ambassador to Kenya, saying it’s untrue.

According to the Nation on Sunday, the Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya Agrinna Mussa was being accommodated at at Panari (Hotel) luxurious apartment, which is fully furnished and serviced, and is located in Westland in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

A receptionist at the hotel confirmed to the paper that Mussa stays at the hotel and she added the most expensive apartment at the hotel costs about $400 (about K300 000 a day or about $13 000 a month).

But Spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rejoice Shumba refuted the claims, saying the information is fabricated.

Shumba said the truth of the matter is that the rented house costs $3,500 a month while the rental entitlement for a High Commissioner in Nairobi is $6500.

“The fact of the matter is that the High Commissioner is renting an apartment for $3,500 a month while the rental entitlement for a High Commissioner in Nairobi is $6500.

“The Nation reporter who wrote the article on Sunday, 5th August 2018, had submitted a questionnaire which was responded to accordingly. But the facts in the article are not the ones that were given in the response,” read in part the statement.

Meanwhile the Ministry has urged the media to use verified facts in the conduct of its work.