In what is seemingly a charm offensive to bolster votes ahead of the 2017 poll, President Uhuru Kenyatta has raided the Western region with several parastatal appointments made on April 17.
The appointments contained in a special gazette notice issued Monday will see the return of former Local Authority minister Musikari Kombo who will now chair the Water Services Trust Board.
Another notable appointment from the region is that of Amani Coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi’s spokesman Kibisu Kabatesi, who was named to the Board of the National Drought Management Authority.
Relations between Uhuru and the region had deteriorated following a 2012 announcement by Mudavadi that Uhuru had agreed to be his running mate in the 2013 poll, an announcement which Uhuru later dismissed saying he was swayed into the agreement by “dark forces”.
Another surprise inclusion in the over 300 appointments is that of Cord leader Raila Odinga’s sister Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, a former diplomat who will now sit in the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) Board.
The appointments further include politicians who supported Uhuru in the last elections, or sons and daughters of politicians and influential businesspeople from across the political divide.
Through the Industrialisation CS, Uhuru also appointed former President Mwai Kibaki’s daughter Judy a member of the Kenya Investment Authority Board.
Stanley Michuki, son of the late Internal Security Minister John Michuki, was appointed a member of the Uwezo Fund Oversight Board.
Margaret Saitoti, widow of former National Security Minister George Saitoti, was named among members of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya Board.
Former Information Minister and MP Samuel Phoghisio was appointed to chair the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Board.
Another former minister and one-time chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority, Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka, replaced Danson Mungatana as the chairperson of the Kenya Ports Authority Board.
Former Local Authority minister Musikari Kombo was appointed to chair the Water Services Trust Board while former Planning minister Henry Obwocha is the chairman of the Privatisation Commission.
Former Housing minister Soita Shitanda is the new chairman of the Agricultural Development Corporation while former Security Minister Julius Sunkuli is a member of the Industrial and Commercial Development Board.
Other politicians who have landed jobs in the parastatal sector include Musa Sirma (Agricultural Development Corporation), Kalembe Ndile (Water Services Regulatory Board), Raphael Wanjala (Nzoia Sugar Company) and Wavinya Ndeti (Water Services Trust Fund).
Other notable appointments include that of Leah Ntimama, daughter of veteran politician William Ntimama, who was appointed to the Water Services Regulatory Board, Richard Leakey (Kenya Wildlife Service Board chairperson) and former Mombasa mayor Taib Ali Taib (Kenya Investment Authority).
Another politician who has landed a job is former MP Omingo Magara, who is now the chairperson of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre Board.
Kennedy Ogeto, an Uhuru lawyer, also landed an appointment – as the chairperson of the Anti-Money Laundering Advisory Board.
URP secretary general Fred Muteti was appointed the chairman of Sports Kenya, while a lawyer who has been associated with TNA, Ambrose Weda, will chair the South Nyanza Sugar Company Board.
Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao is now a member of the Nacada Board.
Former President Kibaki’s nephew and ex-MP Nderitu Mureithi was appointed a member of the Policy Holders’ Compensation Fund.
Esipisu said that the changes were made in line with the recommendations of the Parastatal Review Taskforce.
“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 Esipisu.
The appointments were made by the Cabinet Secretaries in the parastatals’ respective line ministries.
Esipisu observed that women, the youth and persons with disabilities will comprise a significant share of the appointments once the exercise is concluded and now stand at 31 per cent.
-the-star.co.ke
