Old guard bounces back in Uhuru shake up of parastatals

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday made 302 appointments to 79 State-owned companies that largely put politicians and allies in charge even as it recognised a few private sector professionals.

This is the first batch of appointments that gives the beneficiaries three-year directorships in the parastatals.

The long-awaited appointments, informed by the findings of the Presidential Taskforce on Parastatal Reforms, are meant to improve service delivery and efficiencies besides dealing with rampant corruption in the State-owned firms.

“The administration is pleased to announce the first batch of appointments to State corporations in line with its transformative agenda for Kenya,” State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said in a statement.

“In making the appointments, the administration has tapped into the wisdom, experience and knowledge of our senior citizens, while embracing the energy, enthusiasm and innovation of our young people.”

The list of the appointees that was gazetted yesterday includes John Ngumi –Standard Bank’s head of East Africa investment banking — who will chair the Kenya Pipeline Company for three years.

Polycarp Igathe, the CEO of Vivo Energy (formerly Shell), is the new chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Agency while James Ndegwa is the new chairman of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), replacing Mr Kung’u Gatabaki who left last year. It was not immediately clear whether this individual is also the chairman of NIC Bank who has a similar name.

Richard Leakey, the renowned conservationist, who served as managing director of Kenya Wildlife Service, is back at the agency as its chairman.

Marsden Madoka who has been serving as Kenya Revenue Authority chairman got another big appointment, replacing Danson Mungatana as chair of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

Mr Kenyatta also appointed scores of politicians and their relatives in an apparent move to widen his political base, especially in areas where his coalition received relatively few votes in the last General Election.

Musikari Kombo, a western Kenya politician, was among the big winners having been appointed the chairperson of the Water Services Trust Fund for three years effective April 17.

Judy Kibaki, a daughter of former president MWai Kibaki, joins the board of the Kenya Investment Authority alongside TransCentury CEO Gachao Kiuna and Mombasa politician Taib A. Taib.

Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, the sister of Cord leader Raila Odinga, joins the board of the Kenya Medical Research Institute while Margaret Saitoti, the widow of former Internal Security minister George Saitoti, is among the new directors appointed to the board of the National Oil Corporation.

Mr Esipisu said the government made an effort to ensure the appointments are inclusive in terms of communities, age, gender, and people with disabilities.

“The appointments reflect the face of Kenya, with all 47 counties represented in honour of the diversity of all people and communities of Kenya,” he said.

“They also comply with the constitutional imperatives on the appointment of women, youth and persons with disabilities.”

Women, youth and disabled currently form 31 per cent of the top parastatal management and their share is expected to rise once the reorganisation of the firms, including further appointments, is concluded.

The 302 appointees will be expected to make a public declaration on fighting corruption, Mr Esipisu said. Their hiring is the first outcome of the reforms study that took nearly 18 months.