Youth council denies delay in naming chairperson

Parliamentary Budget Committee chairman Mutava Musyimi, National Youth Service Director-General Nelson Githinji and Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru during a meeting at the National Youth Service headquarters in Nairobi on June 4, 2015. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Protestors had earlier demanded an explanation from the Devolution CS.
• On Thursday, the Devolution ministry said it would make a decision shortly.

By NATION REPORTER
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The National Youth Council says there has not been a delay in appointing its next chairperson.

On Thursday, acting chairperson Fatuma Hoorow Abubakar called on the youth to remain patient because three nominees for the post had already been forwarded to Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.

"We would also like to clarify that there has not been any delay in the appointment since the names were submitted just over three days ago," she said, while urging individual nominees not to pressure the government into making an appointment.

Ms Abubakar was reacting to a protest outside the Ministry of Devolution where young people demanded an explanation from Ms Waiguru.

They claimed Dishon Atemo's name had been forwarded to her for gazettement yet that had not been done.

Ms Abubakar said there were in fact three nominees — Mr Atemo, Ms Jackie Maganda and Mr Billy Mijungu — who must now await Ms Waiguru's decision.

The position of chairperson has been vacant since March 15 when Mr Clement Ayungo resigned. Ms Abubakar said the council's board held two meetings in April with the State Corporations Advisory Council and the Inspector-General of State Corporations after which three nominees were selected.

The National Youth Council was formed to promote youth programmes, including the allocation of 30 per cent of government procurement to young people.

The protestors on Wednesday argued that the absence of a chairperson had derailed that particular programme.

On Thursday, the Devolution ministry said it would make a decision shortly.

"The Ministry has received communication from the Council Secretariat and it will be acted upon as soon as possible in line with the National Youth Council Act and Mwongozo guidelines for governance of state corporations," the Ministry said in a statement.