Muthaura welcomes his appointment as parastatal boss

Mr Francis Mutahura, the newly appointed chairman of the Lamu Port and South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Development Authority (Lapset). He has welcomed his appointment by President Kenyatta terming it as a favour and pledged to ensure the Lapset project becomes a reality soon. His appointment has elicited mixed reactions from leaders across the country and also his Meru backyard. PHOTO/FILE

What you need to know:

  • Mr Muthaura termed the appointment as a “favour” from the president and pledged to ensure the project becomes a reality soon.
  • Mr Muthaura's appointment elicited mixed reactions from Meru leaders with some Meru MPs asking the president to reconsider his decision.
  • But the leaders seem to have softened their stance after the Njuri Ncheke council of elders asked the MP's from the Meru region rejecting Mr Muthaura's appointment to “cool down and stop washing their dirty linen in the public”.

Francis Muthaura has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointing him as the Lamu Port and South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Development Authority Chairman.

Mr Muthaura termed the appointment as a “favour” from the president and pledged to ensure the project becomes a reality soon.

The former head of Public Service spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony for Meru County Assembly speaker Mr Kaberia Arimba in Meru Town.

“I consider the appointment a great favour and I am more than willing, with the help of other professionals, local and political leaders to make this project work for the betterment of Kenya's economy,” said Mr Muthaura.

He said his appointment was based on “merit and wide international experience” and that he was the most ideal person to head the parastatal.

Mr Muthaura termed Lapsset as a viable infrastructural project that will open Northern Kenya to various opportunities and will eventually boost the country's economy.

“At the moment, the country only has one major transport corridor, the Mombasa, Nairobi, Busia railway.

We need Lapsset to ensure we open up other parts of the country and I believe I have the ability, together with other teams to make the project succeed,” he said.

MIXED REACTIONS

Mr Muthaura's appointment elicited mixed reactions from Meru leaders with some Meru MPs asking the president to reconsider his decision.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki and Tharaka Nithi County Senator Kithure Kindiki have criticised Mr Muthaura's appointment and asked President Kenyatta to give priority to Tharaka Nithi, Igembe and Nyambene areas.

But the leaders seem to have softened their stance after the Njuri Ncheke council of elders asked the MPs from the Meru region rejecting Mr Muthaura's appointment to “cool down and stop washing their dirty linen in the public”.

But speaking at the same function, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Governor Peter Munya said the leaders were expressing their personal sentiments and not those of the Meru community.

“President Kenyatta is making Meru great by by recognising our son Mr Muthaura.

He is the most prominent person as far as that appointment is concerned.

We are embarrassed and surprised that some of our leaders are trying to reduce Muthaura to a village leader,” said Mr Murungi.

The senator called on the disgruntled legislators to end the “debate” on the appointment so that Mr Mutahura could take over his new role with ease.