The Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya, has raised concerns over discrepancies in the nomination process for members of the Kitui Municipal Board.
During the ongoing vetting of nominees, the committee scrutinized submissions from various nominating bodies, revealing inconsistencies that have called the integrity of the process into question.
One of the key figures to appear before the committee was Mr. Eric M. Musuu, the Acting Chairperson of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kitui County Branch. Mr. Musuu presented the nomination of Mr. Mwendwa Munyoki, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the KNCCI, Kitui Chapter, as a member of the Kitui Municipal Board.
When questioned about the selection criteria, Mr. Musuu admitted that the decision to nominate Mr. Munyoki was made solely by the eight directors of the Chamber. This decision did not involve the broader membership of the Kitui Chapter, which consists of 830 members, raising concerns about the transparency and inclusivity of the nomination process.
Adding to the committee’s suspicions, Mr. Musuu refuted the existence of a letter allegedly from the Chamber, which purportedly amended the minutes and was addressed to the chair of the Committee on Appointments. This denial has further complicated the situation, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the submitted list of nominees that was forwarded to the Governor for approval by the County Assembly.
In a surprising revelation, Mr. Musuu disclosed that Mr. Mwendwa Munyoki had, in fact, declared a conflict of interest during the Chamber’s internal deliberations, contradicting Mr. Munyoki’s earlier statement during the approval hearing, where he denied any conflict. Despite this, the minutes of the Chamber’s meeting failed to record this critical declaration, raising further concerns about the accuracy of the documentation and the overall nomination process.
The Committee on Appointments continues to delve deeper into the matter, as these discrepancies have prompted questions about the fairness and transparency of the nomination process for the Kitui Municipal Board. The outcome of this investigation is likely to have significant implications for the governance of the municipal board and the integrity of future nominations in Kitui County.
