Lobby files suit to stop hiring of KRA boss

A lobby group on Wednesday filed a petition at the High Court seeking to stop the appointment of the new Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) commissioner-general, just days after the board concluded interviewing five candidates for the job.

The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) secretary-general, Stephen Mutoro, said the action was not linked to increased speculation that the board had settled on an insider to take over the mantle from Michael Waweru.

“We have no idea who they have settled for. All the applicants are qualified enough, but we are faulting the process,” said Mr Mutoro.
Mr Waweru is due to retire in two months.

The battle for his succession is expected to be between Domestic Tax Commissioner-Large Tax Payers Office John Njiraini, the man who topped during interviews for the Controller of Budget, and Barclays Bank Kenya CEO Adan Mohamed.

Customs Department Commissioner Wambui Namu is the other top contender.

Others shortlisted for the position were KRA commissioner for Domestic Taxes Alice Owuor and support services head Helen Bila.
Besides Mr Mohamed, other applicants from outside the authority were James R. Njuguna and African Development Bank chief James Gituro Wahome.

Interviews for the position of Large Tax Payers Office and Customs chief, which commenced on Tuesday, were expected to conclude on Wednesday.

KRA officials, who cannot go on record on the issue, confirmed the Monday interviews for the top slot were concluded after 9 pm.
The case before Mr Justice Isaac Leonala seeks to have the process stopped on the grounds that the selection was not open to the public.

“We want the commissioner-general’s recruitment process to be started afresh. We want it to be made public in accordance with Article 35 of the Constitution,” said Mr Mutoro.

The said article of the Constitution, titled “access to information,” emphasises the need to put out information to the public and further notes: “The State shall publish and publicise information affecting the nation.”

This is the second case Cofek has taken to court seeking to nullify the appointment of a public official. In August, it filed a case against the reappointment of Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Charles Njoroge.

Cofek won orders against Mr Njoroge’s reappointment until the case, which is still ongoing, is determined.

Cofek has been vocal on the recruitment since KRA advertised the positions in the media late last year and has expressed concern that the process was being managed by insiders.

On Wednesday, Mr Mutoro said that the public should be allowed to make presentations to the selecting agency, preferably the Public Service Commission.

The Business Daily’s sources, who can’t be named while commenting on the sensitive matter, said the board chaired by Marsden Madoka received memoranda on some contenders, some of them “lengthy.”