Protest as Jubilee election losers and cronies picked to head parastatals

President Uhuru Kenyatta is this weekend on the spot following appointments of top parastatal heads, which brought back politicians rejected in the last elections into public offices.

On Friday, the President gazetted 26 names of individuals appointed to head selected state corporations with many election losers and some retired civil servants picked to chair public institutions in what has been criticised as an attempt to kill the Jubilee initiative to reform parastatals. Most appointments take effect from January 10.

The quiet manner of appointment through a special issue of the Kenya Gazette is also at odds with the practice of regularly releasing press statements and providing updates on State activities, including on official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The President’s action came just 10 days after his Chief of Staff, Mr Joseph Kinyua, issued a circular suspending the appointment of chief executive officers in State corporations by various government ministries.

The latest appointments elicited a wave of protest and outrage among various leaders and on social media where the Head of State was criticised for recycling appointees just like his predecessors, Mr Daniel arap Moi and Mr Mwai Kibaki.

In Friday’s Gazette notice, the President appointed 15 politicians who lost in the March 4 General Election.

Some of the politicians who benefited from the appointments include Ms Jebii Kilimo, Ms Agnes Ndetei, Mr Peter Kiilu, Prof Philip Kaloki, Mr Onyango Oloo, Mr Julius Kones, Mr Abdul Bahari, Mr Edwin Yinda, Mr Titus Ibui, Mr Mohammud Mohammed, Mr Matu Wamae, Mr Geofrey King’ang’i, Mr Daniel Wamahiu, Mr Taraiyia ole Kores and Mr Samuel Nyangeso.

Saturday, State House insisted that there was nothing in the appointments that was inconsistent with the parastatal reforms initiated by the President a few months ago.

“We do not want to comment on things people are saying without knowing who those people are,” said State House spokesman Manaoh Esipisu. “Some of those appointed have been engaged in nation building in other sectors and definitely merit the appointments due to their experience.”

Mr Wamahiu, who will now head the Kenya Pipeline Corporation, was the TNA pointman in Nyeri and hosted the President shortly after his inauguration in April while former Mathira MP Matu Wamae, who lost in the 2002 elections, will continue to be in charge of the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries.

Ms Kilimo broke ranks with United Republican Party leader William Ruto to stand on a TNA ticket but lost the Marakwet East seat. She will chair the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation board. Mr Tarayia ole Kores, who was locked out of the Kajiado gubernatorial elections due to questionable academic papers, will be in charge of the troubled Kenya Meat Commission.

Former Moyale MP Mohammud Mohammed Ali, who lost his bid to defend the seat on a URP ticket, is the new chairman of the National Hospital Insurance Fund, taking over from Mr Joseph Aluoch.

Col (rtd) Geoffrey King’ang’i — former President Kibaki’s aide de camp who quit the army to join the race for the Mbeere South seat but lost —  becomes the chairman of the National Cereals and Produce Board while former Makueni MP Peter Kiilu, who was beaten by Wiper Democratic Party’s Daniel Maanzo, will head the Water Resource Management Authority.

Former Kibwezi MP Agnes Ndetei, who petitioned the candidature of city lawyer Kethi Kilonzo ahead of the Makueni senatorial by-election, has been picked as chairperson of the National Drought Management Authority.

Another poll loser, Prof Philip Kaloki, is to head the Kenya Medical Training College Board, replacing former Gem MP Joe Donde. Prof Kaloki’s most recent loss as a Jubilee candidate was in the Makueni senatorial by-election, where he lost to Mr Mutula Kilonzo Jnr of Cord.

TNA Secretary-General Onyango Oloo, who was previously expected to land a Cabinet slot, has been appointed chairman of the Lake Basin Development Authority while former Konoin MP Julius Kones, who lost his Bomet gubernatorial bid to Isaac Ruto, will head the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation.

Kisii TNA pointman and former mayor Samuel Nyangeso also benefited from the appointments and will now head the Kenya National Library Services Board while former Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda, who lost elections in March on an ODM ticket, will take charge of the Kenya Information and Communications Board.

Former MP Abdul Bahari, whose TNA bid for the Isiolo gubernatorial seat flopped, has been appointed the chairman of the Tana & Athi Rivers Development Authority.

Mr Titus Ibui, the chairman of the Alliance Party of Kenya, whose leader Kiraitu Murungi is the Meru senator, is the chairman of the Kenya Leather Development Council Board.

Former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura who had previously declared he was not interested in public office, will head the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority.

Mr Muthaura, diplomat, was also President Kenyatta’s co-accused in the case facing him at the International Criminal Court  but the prosecutor dropped the charges against him due to lack of evidence.

Saturday, the President came under fire for the appointments with a section of leaders describing his action as a major signal that he was reluctant to adopt a new paradigm.

“It is clear that the President is keen to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors,” said Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, who has been causing ripples in the Jubilee Alliance by speaking against skewed appointments and alleged corruption in the standard gauge railway deal. “Now those who have doubted what I have been saying can see for themselves.”

Igembe Central MP Kubai Kiringo also criticised the appointments, saying they were inconsistent with the Jubilee agenda, which had promised jobs to young Kenyans and regional balance to ensure national cohesion.

“This is a replica of the Kibaki style of leadership” he said.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi and his Maara counterpart, Mr Kareke Mbiuki described the appointments as signs of doom for the country.

Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution chairman Charles Nyachae said the recommendations by the task force could have been used to initiate a legal framework for the implementation of a serious government policy on state corporations.

“Initially, we thought the President was on the right track when he formed the Task Force on reforms. But now with these appointments, he has totally veered off the track,” Mr Nyachae said.

The task force led by the President’s legal advisor, Mr Abdikadir Mohamed, had recommended that some parastatals and state corporations be merged and others abolished.

And Kenyans on social media were quick in their reactions too, with Mr Ekuru Aukot tweeting that “President Uhuru should revise his list of parastatal heads and comply with the 1/3 gender principle”.

George Gathigi was more sarcastic: “KUDOS! The #Muthauras, #Ndeteis & others are ‘Digital’ gems we were promised. @UKenyatta govt is admirably youthful”, while Wehliye Mohamed was unforgiving: “Congrats to Mzee Muthaura for his appointment. A civil servant since JFK. Outlived 10 US admins most serving two terms”.

Additional Reporting by Ken Kimathi