By Moses Michira
President Uhuru Kenyatta has formally appointed John Mututho to chair the National Authority for Campaigns Against Drugs and Alcohol (Nacada), a week after Parliament approved his nomination in a dramatic session.
President Kenyatta announced the appointment through a special gazette notice that has seen Mr Mututho assume the same office that he had initially taken in September only to be kicked out early this month.
Mututho, who is most remembered for introducing tough laws that shortened drinking hours, will hold the office for a three-year term, with the appointment taking effect on November 20.
His earlier appointment was contested by members of the Nacada board – whom Mututho had uneasy relations with over financial appropriation and style of management.
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The board members said in a meeting that kicked Mututho out of office that he had not been approved by Parliament and, therefore, lacked the legitimacy to chair any meetings.
The opposition led to the revocation of his appointment by President Kenyatta after two months in office paving way for his vetting by Parliament. The parliamentary committee that vetted him found him unfit to hold office because he had a criminal case pending in court, only for the decision to be overturned by the whole House. Mututho, a former Naivasha MP, has sworn to introduce stringent measures to regulate the alcoholic drinks market.
