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According to the Daily Nation , Ndile donated a 21-inch television set to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that ministry officials would save themselves a trip to DC for Obama's inauguration.

However, his gesture was not received well as his “donation” was rejected. The former Kibwezi MP was also not allowed into the building with the gift. None of the ministry officials was willing to take the TV set, with the minister, his assistant and PS not available to receive it.

But this did not stop Mr Ndile from proceeding with his mission. He left the television set, which he claimed to be from his sitting room, at the building’s door.

Apparently the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetangula is in Cuba on state business, and will pass by the US on the eve of the inauguration:

On Monday 12 January 2009, the Hon Minister held a press conference where he briefed the media on his official trip to Cuba as leader of Government delegation to the 4th Kenya-Cuba Joint Commission and his subsequent trip to USA, as the Guest of Honour, to an event to mark the inauguration of President-elect Barak Obama sponsored by African Diplomatic Corps in Washington that will be held on the eve of the inauguration. 

In a press release on its website, MFA expresses disappointment at Ndile for trivializing Obama's inauguration.

regrettable that Mr. Kalembe Ndile has chosen to trivialize such a historical and momentous occasion for Africa and the whole world with his unsolicited “donation”.

The government, not just the MFA, has come under criticism for its excessive expenses on international travel. These expenses are particularly disturbing following the number of displaced Kenyans following the 2007 post-election violence, and the state's recent declaration that close to 10 milion Kenyans were at risk of starvation.  Eric Ombok (Bloomberg ) reports that Kenya needs close to a milion tons of maize and 32 billion Kenyan shillings ($402 million).

Kenya, sub-Saharan Africa’s fifth-largest corn producer, has sufficient corn to last until February, after poor rainfall and post-election violence in the first two months of last year cut plantings, Agriculture Minister William Ruto said Dec. 30.

Kenyan corn stocks fell to 63,000 tons from 360,000 tons, while strategic grain reserves have also dropped sharply, Kibaki said earlier today. Corn is Kenya’s staple food.

More than 10 million Kenyans, about a quarter of the population, now need food aid, Kibaki said.