Abduba Dida, Samuel Poghisio land plum parastatal jobs

Mr Mohammed Abduba Dida. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Ndwiga, Kapondi and Mungatana among those hired

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By LUCAS BARASA
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By BEVERLY NDEGE
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Human rights activists on Thursday criticised President Kenyatta’s appointment of more heads of parastatals, saying the appointees cannot transform the civil service.

The advocates said the appointments only rewarded President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto’s political allies who lost in last year’s General Election.

East Africa School of Human Rights chief executive Atuti Atunga, said the decision contradict’s Jubilee’s promise of restructuring the management of State corporations.

Human rights activist Ndung’u Wainaina was concerned that the appointments were made yet civil service boss Joseph Kinyua issued a circular barring further appointments to parastatals until there is proper restructuring.

This, he added, was also contained in recommendations by the presidents own task force on parastal reform headed by his constitutional and legal affairs advisor Abdikadir Mohammed and banker Isaac Awuondo. Mr Wainaina questioned if the Public Service Commission had a hand in the appointments.

“What does these appointments say about that commission’s ability to transform civil service? Mark you no country has ever made progress with archaic civil service. Kenya is condemned to the graveyard of new wine in old wine-skin,” Mr Wainaina said.

In what is seen as his efforts to consolidate his support in various parts of the country, President Kenyatta gave key parastatal positions to his loyalists and those of Mr Ruto.

Former Cabinet Ministers Samuel Poghisio and Njeru Ndwiga, former assistant minister Danson Mungatana, former MP Fred Kapondi and former presidential candidate Abduba Dida are among those appointed to head various parastatals.

Similar appointments last month attracted huge criticism from various leaders who said they had failed to meet constitutional requirements, on gender, youth and regional balance.

In a special gazette notice dated December 31, President Kenyatta named Mr Poghisio the chairperson of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The former Information minister and Kacheliba MP vied for the West Pokot senatorial seat on URP ticket but lost.

Mr Ndwiga who also lost his bid to be senator on TNA ticket is the new chairman of Tana-Athi Water Services Board, replacing Mr Harrison Moipei Tago whose appointment was revoked.

Mr Sammy Chepkwony was appointed chairperson National Housing Corporation board, replacing Mr Isaac Mogaka.

Mr Dida is to chair the Constituency Development Fund, replacing Ms Jennifer Nafula Barasa whose appointment was revoked.

Mr Mungatana who campaigned for President Kenyatta has landed a plum job as Kenya Ports Authority chairperson while Mr Kapondi will chair the for three years.

Mr Mungatana succeeds Mr Baramadi Shukri whose appointment has been cancelled.

Other appointments include that of Mr Sammy Latema to chair the National Irrigation Board, replacing Mr Daniel Munyao Mule while Prof Alex Chemtai will head the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists board.

One of President Kenyatta’s lawyers in the case facing him at the International Criminal Court, Mr Gershom Otachi, is the new chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Policyholders’ Compensation Fund. Mr Otachi takes over from Mr Abdulmalek Janmohamed.

Mr Ruto’s ally and former Youth for Kanu ‘92 activist Patrick Osero will now chair the Agricultural Finance Corporation, taking over from Mr Hesbon Kadullo Mariwa.