Dramatic moments in vetting CEC nominees with questionable papers

The vetting of Baringo County Cabinet nominees is still the talk among residents, nearly two weeks after the dramatic exercise.

The drama started even before the vetting, when Governor Stanley Kiptis failed to make public the CVs and academic credentials of his 10 nominees and only posted scanty details after sustained public pressure.

The assembly too, started on a wrong footing when it slotted the exercise for October 26, the day repeat presidential poll was to take place.

The clerk, John Koech, had to change the date after an uproar from the public and civil rights groups.

“Changes have been made and the nominees who could have appeared for vetting on October 26, 2017, being an election day, will appear on October 23, 2017,” read the advertisement.

Sent out

The drama hit climax on the D-Day when Environment, Natural Resources, Tourism and Wildlife Management nominee Scola Kimeli failed to answer the simplest of questions related to the docket. Journalists and members of the public had to be sent out of the room, probably to save Kimeli from public ridicule.

When asked to cite a few examples of tourist attraction sites in the county, Kimeli named rivers, forests, murram and rubies.

She however declined to answer a question on human-wildlife conflict and how she would handle it, saying she was a victim of the menace. She made it clear to the County Assembly Appointment Committee that unless she was compensated, she was not ready to answer the question.

“Why are you asking me that question? Are you going to compensate me for the maize I invested in that was destroyed by zebras? I also need to be compensated!”  she retorted.

It is at this point that Speaker David Kerich, who chairs the committee, asked journalists and other members of the public to leave the room.

“Sorry members, everybody must step out. Only the members of the committee will remain. We will call you back in 10 minutes,” said Kerich.

But before then, Kimeli’s claims that she was from Baringo were also dismissed.

Issues had been raised over her qualifications and job experience after she indicated she was a Finance manager at Cityscape Trends in Nairobi while her name does not appear among the senior employees of the company in the firm’s website profile.

Nevertheless, her vetting went on and was completed behind closed doors.

Then came Clement Lomaring’oria, the nominee for Industry, Commerce, Enterprise and Cooperative Development, who could not produce his academic transcripts to the vetting panel. The committee had to reschedule his interview.

Lomaring’oria’s documents presented to the vetting panel show that he acquired a Bachelor’s degree in a record one year from St Marys University in Minnesota in conjunction with Tangaza College in Nairobi. The papers indicate that he graduated with a Diploma in May 2007, then a degree in December 2008.

“Do you have a Bachelor in Education? You’ve just told us that you did Bachelor of Science. I think your transcripts will answer all these questions,” said the speaker.

In his explanation, Lomaring’oria informed the committee that immediately after his diploma course, he was exempted from going for a teaching practice, which gave him the time to finish his degree in one year.

Making a mockery

But when he appeared before the committee on Tuesday to present his academic documents, it emerged that both the diploma and degree transcripts were one and the same.

“From the transcripts presented here to us, results for diploma and degree are all combined, so we are wondering and would wish you clarify,” said one of the committee members.

And Lomaring’oria’s response was that he enrolled for a three-year diploma course after which he joined fourth year and acquired his degree.

Other nominees vetted were Elijah Kipkoros, Mary Chebet Panga, Dr David Chesire, Dr Joel Koima, Philemon Rono, Thomas Nongonop, Dr Maureen Rotich and Dr Richard Rotich.

Of the 10, eight are teachers.

And none was nominated for positions they applied for, thus making a mockery of the County Governments Act 2012, which says that for one to be appointed a county executive, they must have relevant experience in the field nominated for.

Governor Kiptis, in picking the nominees, also went against the guidelines in an advert by County Secretary Stella Kereto, which required applicants to have at least 10 years of experience in relevant fields.

“For one to be appointed, they must have knowledge, experience, and distinguished career of not less than ten years in the field relevant to the portfolio of the department to which the person is being appointed,” read the advertisement that appeared in the local dailies.

In 2013, Nakuru County Assembly rejected names forwarded to the assembly by then Governor Kinuthia Mbugua after he picked people who had not applied for the positions.

Baringo civil society groups have questioned the education qualifications of two Kimeli and Lomaring’oria.

“We feel both nominees lied to the panel on their academic qualifications and should be investigated immediately and prosecuted,” says Isaac Biwott, who chairs the Baringo Civil Society.

Biwott and Baringo County Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance Programme Coordinator Godfrey Kipsoi said should the two assume office, they will move to court and petition the county assembly.