Home National News Kitui County Assembly Probes Controversial Nomination Process for Municipality Board Members

Kitui County Assembly Probes Controversial Nomination Process for Municipality Board Members

831

On Monday, 26 August 2024, the senior most Kitui County Assembly Committee on Appointments, led by Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya, began a critical two-day exercise scrutinizing nominating bodies to clarify issues surrounding the selection of Kitui Municipality Board Members.

This probe follows the vetting of nominees by the same committee on 27 and 28 May 2024, sparking concerns over transparency and adherence to due process.

The first witness before the committee was Mr. William Mutinda from the Office of the Governor. Mr. Mutinda confirmed that he chaired the 2 February 2024 meeting at KAFOCA Hotel, organized by the unregistered Kitui Youth Link, which nominated Ms. Lina Kawia Mutinda for a board position.

However, during the session, Mr. Mutinda revealed that Ms. Lina Mutinda is his sister, a fact he failed to disclose during the nomination process, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns given his role as a public officer.

Mr. Nason Kang’alya Kilonzo, Chief Officer for Youth, Sports, ICT, and Innovation, was the second to appear. He denied knowledge of the Kitui Youth Link organization and distanced himself from the nomination process, despite his name being listed in the minutes as Vice Chair of the Youth Link.

Mr. Kilonzo also claimed he was unfamiliar with the nominee, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the nominating body and raising questions about how his name was included in the minutes.

The last witness on Monday was Mr. Evans Mutemi Mutua, Chief Officer for Urban Development. Like Mr. Kilonzo, he also disassociated himself from the nomination process, despite being listed as Vice Secretary in the Kitui Youth Link minutes.

Ms.Linah Kawia Mutinda, the nominee appearing before the Appointments Committee for vetting as a member of the Kitui Municipality Board. Ms Linah was nominated by the Kitui Youth Link.

Mr. Mutua expressed uncertainty over the authenticity of the minutes and emphasized his compliance with the Public Officer Ethics Act by avoiding any conflict between personal interests and official duties.

The investigation is set to continue on Tuesday, with the Acting County Secretary, the Chairperson of the Kitui County Public Service Board, and the Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce, Kitui Chapter, expected to testify.

These sessions are anticipated to shed more light on the nomination of other individuals for the Kitui Municipality Board, potentially uncovering further procedural breaches or validating the legitimacy of the entire process.

Ends///

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here