Uhuru revokes Dida’s appointment

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and JACOB NGETICH

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has surprisingly revoked the appointment of Abduba Dida as the chairman of the Constituency Development Fund.

The President’s appointment of his challenger in the last presidential elections had drawn a lot of interest from Kenyans, with some lauding it and others opposing. In a Gazette notice dated January 3, the Jubilee administration rewarded former Malindi Town MP Lucas Maitha – a political loser in the March 2013 elections – who becomes the chairman of National Standards Council of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

“It is notified for the information of the general public that Gazette Notice No. 15728 of 2013, issued under Section 5(4) of the Constituency Development Fund Act, stands revoked,” the notice, signed by Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, reads.

MPs had reacted angrily to Uhuru’s appointment of Mr Dida, saying he had violated the law in the appointment.

Under the CDF Act 2013, only the Cabinet Secretary for matters dealing with CDF (Devolution in this case) has powers to appoint a chair of the board from among members who have been vetted by Parliament.

The revocation will likely give Jennifer Barasa an opportunity to continue serving given that her term had not elapsed.

This is the second time that the Jubilee administration has been forced to withdraw an appointment owing to public pressure.

POLITICAL LOSERS

Last year, the Head of State was forced to de-gazette former Naivasha MP John Mututho as chairman of Nacada as the appointment was unprocedural.

Mututho later got the job after vetting by Parliament.

Maitha – an ally of Deputy President William Ruto – will serve for three years beginning January 10. Maitha has in the past served as the chairman of the Betting Control Board.

In the same Gazette notice, Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed picked Albert Mwilitsa as chairman of the National Standards Tribunal, thereby revoking that of Aggrey Shitsama Ambwenga Shikanga.

And Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu appointed Tsuma Murabu Chaka as the chairman of the Coast Water Service Board for a five-month period, replacing Antony Charo Mrima.

Education, Science and Technology Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi appointed David Murithi Kirugua as the chairperson of the selection panel for appointments to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board.

Also appointed members of the panel are Simon K. Rotich, Stanley Waithaka, Gilda Odera and Mutheu Kasanga.

Sources in the Jubilee government indicated that more appointments were in the offing before the end of this month.