Politics and policy
By VICTOR JUMA, vjuma@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
- The long-awaited appointments are meant to improve service delivery and efficiencies besides dealing with rampant corruption in the State-owned firms.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday made 302
appointments to 79 State-owned companies that largely put politicians
and allies in charge even as it recognised a few private sector
professionals.
This is the first batch of appointments that gives the beneficiaries three-year directorships in the parastatals.
The long-awaited appointments, informed by the
findings of the Presidential Taskforce on Parastatal Reforms, are meant
to improve service delivery and efficiencies besides dealing with
rampant corruption in the State-owned firms.
“The administration is pleased to announce the
first batch of appointments to State corporations in line with its
transformative agenda for Kenya,” State House spokesperson Manoah
Esipisu said in a statement.
“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.”
The list of the appointees that was gazetted
yesterday includes John Ngumi –Standard Bank’s head of East Africa
investment banking — who will chair the Kenya Pipeline Company for three
years.
Polycarp Igathe, the CEO of Vivo Energy (formerly
Shell), is the new chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Agency while James
Ndegwa is the new chairman of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA),
replacing Mr Kung’u Gatabaki who left last year. It was not immediately
clear whether this individual is also the chairman of NIC Bank who has a similar name.
Richard Leakey, the renowned conservationist, who
served as managing director of Kenya Wildlife Service, is back at the
agency as its chairman.
Marsden Madoka who has been serving as Kenya
Revenue Authority chairman got another big appointment, replacing Danson
Mungatana as chair of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
Mr Kenyatta also appointed scores of politicians
and their relatives in an apparent move to widen his political base,
especially in areas where his coalition received relatively few votes in
the last General Election.
Musikari Kombo, a western Kenya politician, was
among the big winners having been appointed the chairperson of the Water
Services Trust Fund for three years effective April 17.
Judy Kibaki, a daughter of former president MWai Kibaki, joins the board of the Kenya Investment Authority alongside TransCentury CEO Gachao Kiuna and Mombasa politician Taib A. Taib.
Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, the sister of Cord leader
Raila Odinga, joins the board of the Kenya Medical Research Institute
while Margaret Saitoti, the widow of former Internal Security minister
George Saitoti, is among the new directors appointed to the board of the
National Oil Corporation.
Mr Esipisu said the government made an effort to
ensure the appointments are inclusive in terms of communities, age,
gender, and people with disabilities.
“The appointments reflect the face of Kenya, with
all 47 counties represented in honour of the diversity of all people and
communities of Kenya,” he said.
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