From: Judy Miriga
Good People!!
These are promising moves, as new brooms sweeps clean……
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Uhuru shocker for Kibaki old guard
President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi June 7, 2013 when they named 26 Principal Secretary nominees. EMMA NZIOKA
By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com AND EDITH FORTUNATE efortunate@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, June 7 2013 at 21:16
In Summary
The 26, he said, were picked from a shortlist provided by the Public Service Commission in accordance with section 155 of the Constitution.
The focus now shifts to the naming of ambassadors and high commissioners.
The process was delayed following a court case filed by the Consumer Federation of Kenya and and a red flag raised by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission that some of the shortlisted people were being investigated for corruption.
President Uhuru Kenyatta named 26 Principal Secretaries who will take charge of implementing his election pledges to Kenyans.
In a move seen as a desire for a fresh start, the President retained only three permanent secretaries from the Kibaki era.
Most of the appointees are professionals picked from within the public service and the private sector. The President created multiple departments in some large ministries under the new dispensation to ease management and operations.
Mr Kenyatta while unveiling the list urged Parliament to fast-track the vetting process.
“We want to fully serve Kenyans, as you are aware yesterday was the first Cabinet sitting and there are a number of issues that need to be tackled and hence the need to fast-track the approval of the principal secretaries,” said Mr Kenyatta.
‘’The men and women that I introduce to you are professionals and able individuals. Parliament should hasten the process for effective service delivery,” he added.
The 26, he said, were picked from a shortlist provided by the Public Service Commission in accordance with section 155 of the Constitution.
Deputy President William Ruto was present at the President’s press conference at State House. He said the list was one of the last stages in the formation of the new government.
The focus now shifts to the naming of ambassadors and high commissioners.
Among those who survived the purge are Mr Mutea Iringo, the former Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration, who did not even apply and was not interviewed for the position.
Mr Mutea was nominated in the Interior department in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. The Department of Coordination will be under Ms Josephta Mukobe, was a senior human resource manager in the Ministry of Planning.
Mr Kenyatta also retained Prof Japheth Micheni Ntiba in the Fisheries Department while Mr Karanja Kibicho, who was PS for Industrialisation is now in charge of the key Foreign Affairs docket.
At least three of those appointed were candidates in the March elections.
Mr John Konchella and Mr Joseph Musuni Tiampati, who contested the gubernatorial seat in Narok County on a Kanu and Kenya National Congress tickets were given Devolution and Communications respectively.
Mr Tiampati is a former general manager with the National Social Security Fund.
Prof Colletta Suda, who resigned as Gender Secretary to contest for the Migori senate seat on an ODM ticket, was nominated Science and Technology PS.
Mr Nduva Muli, who has been the managing director of Kenya Railways, has been nominated to the Transport docket, while former ambassador to Ethiopia Monica Juma has been proposed for Defence.
Former Tea Board of Kenya managing director Sicily Kariuki will be in charge of the Agriculture docket while former Kenya Power managing director Joseph Njoroge has been nominated for the Energy and Petroleum docket.
Other PS nominees are Mariamu El Maawy (Lands), Wilson Songa (Industrialisation and Enterprise Development, Joseph Lopeyetum (Water), John Mosonik (Infrastructure), Belio Kipsang (Education), Kamau Thugge (Treasury), Ali Noor Ishmail and Ibrahim Mohammed (Commerce and Tourism).
The others are Dr Khadija Kassachoon (Livestock), Mr Fred Sigor (Health), Mr Richard Ekai (Mining), Mr Patrick Omutia (Sports, Culture and Arts), Mr Mwanamaka Amani (East African Community) and Mr Richard Lesiyampe (Environment and Natural Resources).
The process was delayed following a court case filed by the Consumer Federation of Kenya and and a red flag raised by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission that some of the shortlisted people were being investigated for corruption.
The names will now be forwarded to Parliament for vetting by various committees ahead of their formal appointment.
Claims of graft cost PSs jobs
EMMA NZIOKA | DAILY NATION Deputy President William Ruto greets some of the nominated principal secretaries at State House on Friday. Most of the PSs who served under former President Mwai Kibaki were not short-listed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
By EDITH FORTUNATE efortunate@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, June 8 2013 at 20:49
In Summary
A key factor that came into play as the talks unfolded was communication between the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and State House over the integrity of some of the shortlisted nominees.
A vast majority of permanent secretaries from the Kibaki administration were left out of the principal secretary nominees named by President Kenyatta on Friday over alleged integrity issues and claims that some of them were too overbearing.
Others fell by the wayside after intense boardroom consultations between President Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, some Cabinet Secretaries and a team of technocrats.
A key factor that came into play as the talks unfolded was communication between the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and State House over the integrity of some of the shortlisted nominees.
Corruption allegations and claims that some permanent secretaries were too overbearing and not team players contributed to the shock exclusion of the vast majority of PSs who served under President Kibaki.
Intense boardroom consultations between President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, some Cabinet Secretaries and a team of technocrats took place days before the 26 principal secretaries were unveiled on Friday.
President Kenyatta, in all his speeches since he took office, has emphasised the need to fight corruption.
The misgivings expressed by the EACC effectively proved to be the downfall of some of the leading candidates for nomination to serve in the new administration.
Played key role
The Nation established that Cabinet Secretaries also played a key role in picking the PSs. Some were presented with a list of three individuals by the President and asked to settle on at least two professionals whom they were comfortable working with.
“The Cabinet Secretaries were given an upper hand in choosing the individuals who are expected to deliver on the Jubilee manifesto. These are their accounting officers and they need to be in agreement on the mandate of the ministry,” said a source privy to the negotiations that went on behind the scenes.
President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto also paid close attention to the report presented by EACC, the source said.
“President Kenyatta wants to break some established cartels and do away with those implicated in
corruption. The President is keen to ensure that all Kenyans benefit especially since he has announced that procurement rules will be amended to ensure 30 per cent of all government contracts are given to the youth.”
In his first official function after taking over office, the Head of State said he was optimistic this move would help spur job and wealth creation.
“We will build on this by developing public private partnerships that partner young men and women and local authorities in the provision of basic services such as clean water and sanitation, roads maintenance, energy and waste management,” the President said.
It has long been believed that cartels in government, working in cahoots with accounting officers who are PSs, have hindered this development in the past and the issue was a key factor when the list of those to serve as Cabinet Secretaries was being prepared.
EACC vice-chairman Irene Keino told the Sunday Nation that a number of individuals shortlisted for the principal secretaries’ jobs had been interviewed.
Out of office
Ms Keino could, however, not disclose the nature of the investigations, saying she was out of office.
“A number of people have been grilled. We are interviewing them one by one. We are trying to clear the backlog,” she said.
EACC listed 15 nominees for the position of principal secretary who it said failed the integrity test.So far, a majority of the PSs who served in the grand coalition government have been rendered jobless and only a few will be considered for other top jobs in state parastatals.
“It is the end of the road for the majority of these permanent secretaries; some will have to go to the private sector or move into business while others have officially retired.
Whenever a new regime comes in, people need to be psychologically prepared for anything. Some didn’t even deliver; they are lucky that the former President (Kibaki) retained them,” said the source.