ERC top appointee turns down job offer
PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | FILE Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir addressing journalists at his Nyayo House office on January 27, 2014.
What you need to know:
- Ms Njagi, who came first, says she now has other engagements with the World Bank
The energy sector may for the time being not get a female chief executive in any of the male-dominated state firms yet, after Ms Laurencia Njagi declined her appointment to head the industry regulator.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir told the Nation in an interview that Ms Njagi who had topped a competitive selection process has written a letter turning down the offer to become the director-general of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Go back to drawing board
“Ms Njagi has declined the offer. We will be forced to go back to the drawing board,” said Mr Chirchir. “We have options which include repeating the entire process. We could also pick any of the other qualified candidates,” said Mr Chirchir who denied any management gap at the sector regulator.
Other top two candidates in the ranking are Mr Joe Ng’ang’a who is now ERC’s director in charge of electricity and Mr Joel Imitira, who is a manager at the telecommunications regulator Communications Commission of Kenya and also a former manager at the firm.
Ms Njagi, 47, Mr Ng’ang’a and Mr Imitiria were recommended to Mr Chirchir as the top contenders in the race to replace Mr Kaburu Mwirichia who exited the scene on August 22 last year.
Dr Frederick Nyang’, a power economist and ERC’s director for economic regulation has since been acting. He did not apply for the position ‘for personal reasons’.
Ms Njagi last September left her job as Kenya Power company secretary to join the World Bank according to her letter rejecting the offer.
