Storm as Posta boss term renewed
ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i during an event at the General Post Office (GPO) in Nairobi on July 30, 2013. The CS has extended postmaster general Enok Kinara’s term for three years. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |
What you need to know:
- Matiang’i allows Kinara to continue working despite State agency and board saying the move by minister is in total disregard of procedures.
- Failure to meet target leaves bitter taste in mouth of corporation’s committee.
The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology has renewed the contract of the postmaster general in spite of objections from two state agencies.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, in a letter addressed to Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua last week, extended Dr Enok Kinara’s term for three years.
The Postal Corporation of Kenya board had evaluated Mr Kinara, whose term expires in August and rejected his quest to have another go at the helm of Posta based on his poor performance.
Correspondence seen by the Nation between the two State agencies indicates the move to renew Dr Kinara’s term is in disregard of the board’s recommendation and contrary to stipulated procedures.
A letter from the Postal Corporation board addressed to Dr Matiang’i dated May 12, 2015, explained its decision.
“The board has rejected the contract renewal of Dr Enock Osoro Kinara for three years, as requested in his letter dated February 19, 2015 due to the fact that he did not meet the threshold as set by the board,” noted the panel.
SET THRESHOLD
While the team had set 70 plus 1 per cent as the threshold for renewal of the term, Dr Kinara scored 58 per cent, which was later harmonised to 68.3 per cent, still missing the pass mark.
Dr Kinara’s performance was found unsatisfactory by the board since the corporation plunged from a Sh173 million profit to a Sh376 million loss after his appointment in August 2012.
The board, which summoned the chief executive to give an account of himself, noted that 79 per cent of the corporation’s profitability areas were in the negative.
A week later, Dr Matiang’i wrote Mr Kinyua approving the renewal of Dr Kinara’s tenure.
Another State agency tasked with advising the government on matters relating to it’s corporations, has also added its voice to the controversial reappointment saga.
In a letter dated May 21, the State Corporations Advisory Committee wrote to Dr Matiang’i, reminding him of the regulations guiding reappointment of a serving chief executive officer and affirming the board’s recommendation for a new appointment instead of the renewal of Dr Kinara’s contract.
In a twist to the incident, the Postal Corporation of Kenya Board Chairman Sammy Tangus yesterday refuted claims that there was a dispute within the board of PCK regarding the renewal of the contract but confirmed that it had given a recommendation to Dr Matiang’i.
