KTF disapproves parastatals board appointments

Parastatals whose board members were replaced

• Kenya Tourist Board
• Kenya Utalii College
• Bomas of Kenya
• Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)
• Kenya Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC)
• Catering and Tourist Development Levy Trustee (CTDLT)
• Hotels and Restaurant Authority (HRA)

The private sector in the Tourism industry under the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the recent changes of board members of various parastatals.

The minister for tourism Dan Mwazo through a gazette notice replaced the board members of 8 parastatals under the ministry in what he said was meant to streamline the delivery of services.

“There was no consultation with the private sector in the tourism sector in the making of this board appointments,” said Ms Lucy Karume chairman of KTF.

She said the board members who were sacked had not anything to deserve being sent home and ta that the sackings were abrupt.

The affected parastatals are the Kenya Tourist Board, Kenya Utalii College, Bomas of Kenya, Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Kenya Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), Catering and Tourist Development Levy Trustee (CTDLT) and Hotels and Restaurant Authority (HRA).

For instance the minister appointed Mahmoud Mohammed, Susan Githuku, Joseph K Kimani, Paul Tergat, Martin Dunford and Zainab Abdalla into the Kenya Tourist Board and revoked the appointment of Anne Wanyoike, Patricia Ithau, Mahan Chandra, Abdul Samji, Julius Kipngetich, and Stogdale.

The KTF members also said the proposed VAT bill that proposes to charge 16 per cent VAT on previously zero rated goods such as bread, milk, flour and other food items will hurt the hotel industry.