The County Assembly Committee on Appointments today , under the leadership of Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya, kicked off an in-depth review of various nominating bodies involved in the selection process for Kitui Municipality Board Members. The interrogation comes after the initial vetting of nominees took place on Monday, 27 May 2024, and Tuesday, 28 May 2024.
The first to face the committee was Mr. William Mutinda from the Office of the Governor. The committee sought to clarify his involvement in the nomination of Ms. Lina Kawia Mutinda, who was put forward for appointment by an unregistered group known as Kitui Youth Link.
Her nomination was relayed to the County Assembly via the Office of the County Secretary in a letter dated 22nd April 2024. Notably, Mr. Mutinda, who chaired the nomination meeting held on 2nd February 2024 at Kafoca Hotel, confirmed to the committee that Ms. Lina Mutinda is his sister. However, he admitted that he did not disclose this familial relationship during the nomination process, a potential conflict of interest given his position as a public officer.
Next to be interrogated was Mr. Nason Kang’alya Kilonzo, Chief Officer for Youth, Sports, ICT, and Innovation. Mr. Kilonzo informed the committee that he had no knowledge of an organization called Kitui Youth Link and had no involvement in the nomination of Ms. Lina Mutinda, despite being named in the nomination documents as the Vice Chairperson of the Youth Link.
He further denied any association with the nominee, although he holds the role of Chief Officer for Youths—a department closely tied to the group.Mr. Evans Mutemi Mutua, Chief Officer for Urban Development, also appeared before the committee. He refuted claims of his involvement in the nomination process, despite being listed as the Vice Secretary and a member of the Kitui Youth Link.
Mr. Mutua stated that he could not verify the authenticity of the meeting minutes from the 2nd February 2024 gathering of the Kitui Youth Link. He further emphasized that his actions did not violate Section 12 of the Public Officer Ethics Act, which mandates public officers to avoid conflicts between personal interests and official duties.
The interrogation continues tomorrow, with key figures such as the Acting County Secretary, the Chairperson of the Kitui County Public Service Board, and the Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce, Kitui Chapter, set to appear before the committee to provide further insights into the nomination process for the Kitui Municipality Board Members.
