Politicians were the biggest winners when President Kenyatta and
various Cabinet Secretaries named 302 officials to the boards of 79
State corporations.
The President and his deputy, Mr
William Ruto, appeared to reward political affiliation in the
appointments which the spokesman for the presidency said were meant to
“reform and transform the parastatal sector”.
By naming
the chairpersons and members of the boards, President Kenyatta and Mr
Ruto have paved the way for the appointment of the chief executive
officers of the State corporations.
In a Gazette Notice
published on Monday, President Kenyatta personally signed the
appointments while members to the boards were appointed by the
respective Cabinet Secretaries.
“In making the
appointments, the Administration has tapped into the wisdom, experience
and knowledge of our senior citizens, while embracing the energy,
enthusiasm and innovation of our young people,” said a statement from
State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu.
The appointments
rewarded leaders of political parties which worked with the Jubilee
Coalition after the 2013 General Election with former Cabinet ministers
Musikari Kombo (Ford Kenya leader) and Soita Shitanda (New Ford Kenya
leader), Henry Obwocha (Ford People) among those named to key positions.
SUPPORTED JUBILEE
Mr
Kombo will chair the Water Services Trust Fund, Mr Obwocha the
Privatization Commission and Mr Shitanda the Agricultural Development
Corporation boards.
The chairman of the Grand National Union, Mr Mwangi Kinjuri, will chair the Athi Water Services Board. His party also supported Jubilee in the last election.
The chairman of the Grand National Union, Mr Mwangi Kinjuri, will chair the Athi Water Services Board. His party also supported Jubilee in the last election.
Other
politicians who got jobs were Mr Samuel Poghisio, who will chair the
board of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Ms Wavinya Ndeti and
Kalembe Ndile who have been appointed as members of the the Water
Services Trust Fund and Water Services Regulatory Board respectively.
Another
politician, Mr Marsden Madoka, has been appointed to chair the Kenya
Ports Authority Board while Mr Omingo Magara has been appointed to the
Kenyatta International Convention Centre board. Mr Magara severed his
links with Cord leader Raila Odinga to work with Mr Ruto, the URP leader
and Deputy President.
The United Republican Party secretary-general, Mr Fred Muteti, has been appointed to the Sports Kenya Board.
Other
politicians who got key positions were former MPs Walter Nyambati who
will chair the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation board, Mr Andrew Monda (Kenya
Accreditation Service), Mr Abdul Bahari (Tana and Athi River Development
Authority) and Suleiman Kamolleh (Coast Development Authority).
Another
former MP allied to URP, Mr Joseph Lagat has been appointed to the Lake
Victoria North Water Services Board while former Eldoret Mayor Joshua
Magut who will chair the Bomas of Kenya Board.
Mr
Ambrose Weda, a lawyer who worked closely with TNA, the President’s
party, was named chairperson of the South Nyanza Sugar Company Board
while his colleague, Mr Gershom Otachi, who was a member of the
President’s legal team at the International Criminal Court (ICC) was
appointed to chair the Geothermal Development Corporation. Another
lawyer, Mr Kennedy Ogeto, who represented Mr Kenyatta in the ICC case
locally, was named to chair the Anti-Money Laundering Board.
Besides
Mr Madoka, other leaders who have been appointed include Mr Taib Ali
Taib, who has been named a member of the Kenya Investments Authority and
Sheikh Juma Ngao, who will join the board of the National Campaign
Against Drugs Authority (Nacada).
The Jubilee leaders
also gave jobs to associates and members of prominent families. Mr
Stanley Michael Michuki has been appointed to the Oversight Board of the
Uwezo Fund while Mr Kibaki’s daughter, Ms Judy Kibaki, becomes a member
to the Kenya Investment Authority Board. Mr Daniel Wamahiu will chair
the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) board while Mrs Margaret
Saitoti was appointed as NOCK board member.
DIVERSITY OF ALL PEOPLE
Mr
Odinga’s sister, Dr Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, has also been appointed as a
member of the Kenya Medical Research Institute board while Mr William
ole Ntimama’s daughter, Leah, becomes a member of the Water Services
Regulatory Board.
“The appointments reflect the face of
Kenya, with all 47 counties represented in honour of the diversity of
all people and communities of Kenya,” said Mr Esipisu in his statement.
“They
also comply with the constitutional imperatives on the appointment of
Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. The Administration is
committed to empowering our women, youth and persons with disabilities.”
He said all the appointed individuals will be
required to declare their readiness to fight corruption in line with the
dictates of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
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