Members want KBC board formed afresh

Parliament faulted the appointment of members of the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation board and resolved that a new one be constituted.

MPs yesterday unanimously accused Information Minister Samuel Poghisio of flouting the KBC Act when he appointed members of the board.

Information Assistant Minister George Khaniri concurred with the MPs saying the Act was not followed when some of the members were appointed and pledged to ensure the recommendations are effected.

"I agree entirely with the parliamentary committee’s recommendation that the KBC board be reconstituted. We will comply expeditiously," he said.

MPs John Mbadi, Philip Kaloki, Yusuf Chanzu and Emilio Kathuri all agreed that the minister failed to address requirements of the KBC.

Individual favoured

However, at some point MPs differed with MPs Erastus Mureithi and Mr Kathuri after the former urged the James Rege committee to go back and investigate the appointment of the KBC Managing Director, arguing that the same board had favoured an individual.

"The board had made up its mind on whom they wanted as a new MD given the kind of qualifications they placed in the advertisement for the same job," said Mbadi.

The Gwasi MP told Parliament that the KBC board was composed of members who never understood the calling of their roles making the corporation to lose out to privately owned stations in the industry.

But both Mureithi and Kathuri supported by Kaloki who was the temporary Speaker disagreed with Mbadi, saying the committee’s report, which was being debated, was strictly on the performance of the board members and not the chief executive.

Other MPs said KBC continued to lose its best employees mainly to other broadcasters because of poor management.