Abduba Dida appointment 'irregular'

Mr Mohammed Abduba Dida. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

CDF Act 2013

• The Cabinet Secretary shall appoint the Chairperson of the Board from amongst the four persons appointed in accordance with paragraph (d) of subsection (2).
• The names and curriculum vitae of the persons nominated to be appointed as members of the Board pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection (2) shall be submitted to Parliament for approval before appointments are made.

By LUCAS BARASA
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An MP has opposed the President's appointment of Mr Abduba Dida to head the Constituency Development Fund terming the move as irregular.

(VIDEO: Abduba Dida creates a buzz)

Mr Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) said: “The President’s purported appointment of Dida to chair CDF Board shows scant respect for the law and we will oppose it strenuously.”

For one to chair the CDF Board, Mr Gumbo said, he or she must be a board member nominated by one of the nominating bodies and be vetted by the relevant House team.

“All board members must secure Parliamentary approval prior to gazettement. There’s no way our committee will allow such flouting of the law, far less letting a comedian chair such an important fund,” Mr Gumbo said.

According to the CDF Act 2013:

"The Cabinet Secretary shall appoint the Chairperson of the Board from amongst the four persons appointed in accordance with paragraph (d) of subsection (2).

"The names and curriculum vitae of the persons nominated to be appointed as members of the Board pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection (2) shall be
submitted to Parliament for approval before appointments are made." (DOWNLOAD: CDF Act 2013)

Mr Dida, who was a presidential candidate in the 2013 General Election, is to replace Ms Jennifer Nafula Barasa, whose appointment was revoked.

REWARDING CRONIES

President Uhuru Kenyatta has come under immense criticism over the appointment of heads of parastatals. (READ: Dida, Poghisio land plum parastatal jobs)

Those opposed to the appointments claim that President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto rewarded political allies who lost in the last election.

Siaya Women Representative Christine Ombaka said the President has let women down because he diverted from his pledge to create more positions in power for them.

“He has failed us....Why is he giving these opportunities to retired cronies?” she posed.

According to Dr Ombaka, the appointments are unconstitutional as they go against the gender rule that requires no more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies be of the same gender.

“Kenyans need to feel that they are represented in the government regardless of gender, religion or regional background,'’ she added.

Ol jororok MP JM Waiganjo however welcomed the move saying President Kenyatta is free to select whomever he pleases as he was given the mandate to lead the country.

“I believe he is a responsible President and that the appointments are in good faith and for prosperity of the country.

“The President is free through his wisdom to appoint the people he wishes. The appointees can only be gauged by their performance,” Mr Waiganjo said.

OLDER PEOPLE BETTER PLACED

According to him, the President has to strike a balance among those who assisted him attain power.

“We cannot have all of us in these appointments. Not all tribes and regions can be represented,” Mr Waiganjo said.

TNA national chairman Johnson Sakaja also supported the appointments saying that the President chose capable individuals and rubbished claims that the youth have been ignored.

“We need both the young and older people in governance but in the right place,“ he said.

He argued that older people are best placed to head parastatals and state corporations because of their years of experience.

The youth, he added, should be given opportunities that put into good use their abilities and fresh innovative ideas.

GENDER RULE

Mr Sakaja was adamant that the President is still aware of the plight that faces women and the youth in the country.

“The gender rule is being misinterpreted here,“ Mr Sakaja said. “We will make sure that within the board of every single institution there will be no more than two-thirds of the same gender.”

National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary General Peter Karanja urged Kenyans to be patient until all appointments are made before they air their views.

“We have given President Kenyatta a job and he should do it. If he violates the instruments of power we should be able to judge him within the confines of the law,“ he said.

(READ: What are the functions of the CDF Board)