The Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee chaired by Hon. Lydia Haika (Taita Taveta) met virtually with Mr. Muhsin Suleiman, a Kenyan residing in Istanbul, Turkey, in an inquiry into the effectiveness of consular services offered to Kenyans in the Diaspora by Kenyan Embassies and high commissions across the world.

In a letter sent to the Committee earlier, Mr. Suleiman informed the Members of how the Kenyan Embassy in Turkey (Ankara) had failed to offer his son a birth certificate, forcing him to travel to Kenya to obtain the document.

He told the Committee that he is yet to receive any communication from the Department of Diaspora Affairs and was therefore requesting the Committee to carry out a thorough review of the processes at the Embassy to ensure they align with the standards and expectations set forth by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He added that effective leadership and personnel must be placed at the embassy to uphold the highest standards of service delivery.

“As a member of the diaspora, I value the importance of timely and reliable assistance, especially in matters concerning vital documents,” said Mr. Suleiman

He further pleaded with the Committee to compel the Embassy to grant him a refund of the USD30 which he had used as the processing fee for his child’s foreign-born birth certificate since the service had not been offered.

Hon. Haika thanked Mr. Suleiman for bringing the matter to the attention of the Committee assuring him that an inquiry will be opened and that those who served him at the Embassy of Kenya in Turkey will be invited for further deliberations.