President Moi yesterday named 12 new ambassadors and high commissioners.

The former Managing Trustee of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Mr Samuel Watuka Muindi, has been named the new High Commissioner to Nigeria.

The post has been vacant since former Agriculture Permanent Secretary Philemon Mwaisaka failed to take it up.

Other notable appointments are those of Mrs Nancy Kirui as High Commissioner to London and Dr Yusuf Abdulrahman Nzibo, who becomes Ambassador to the US.

Mrs Kirui was the head of the Americas division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prior to his appointment, Dr Nzibo was Kenya's Ambassador to the Netherlands.

The two stations have been vacant since the transfer of Mr Mwanyengela Ngali from London to become the Permanent Secretary for Energy and Mr Samson Chemai's recall from Washington.

In a major departure from past practice, President Moi has appointed mainly career diplomats who have been heading various desks in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

President Moi is in London.

The Presidential Press Service (PPS) announced that the President will return to Nairobi tomorrow.

He left Nairobi on Saturday night on an unannounced visit to Europe.

The appointments, contained in a Presidential Press Service statement, were made during President Moi's two-day visit.

Mr Steven Loyatum, who was Kenya's Ambassador to France, is now the new High Commissioner in Australia.

The position became vacant after Mr Franklin Bett, a former Comptroller of State Houses, resigned.

Mr Edward Namasaka becomes the new Ambassador to Sudan. Prior to the appointment, he was the Ambassador to Ethiopia.

Ms Mary Donde Odinga has been appointed the new Ambassador to Japan. She has been the Permanent Representative to Habitat in Nairobi.

The director of administration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr John Willy Mukuriah, has been appointed Kenya's High Commissioner in Pakistan.

Mr Boaz Kidiga Mbaya, who has been the director of political affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed the new Ambassador to France, replacing Mr Loyatum.

Mrs Magdalene Wambua has been appointed High Commissioner in Uganda, a post that has been vacant.

Prior to this, Mrs Wambua was the head of the Europe and Commonwealth division in the ministry.

Mr Charles Otwori Mbaka is Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The chairman of the Department of Literature at the University of Nairobi, Prof Ciarunji Chesaina, is High Commissioner in South Africa. Mr Leonard Ngaithe is Ambassador to the Netherlands. He was the acting High Commissioner in the United Kingdom.