In a move bound to spark political controversy, President William Ruto has appointed Captain Kungu Mungai, a cousin of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, as the chairperson of the Board of the Kenya Cultural Centre Council.
The appointment, which was made by Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, will last for a period of two years.
Captain Mungai, who also serves as the patron of the Kikuyu Council of Elders, is one of several individuals appointed to State Corporations by President Ruto in recent days.
Other notable appointments include Hannah Waitherero Muriithi as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation, Irene Metha Karimi as the non-executive chairperson of the board of Financial Inclusion Fund, and Patrick Gichuru Gichohi as the chairperson of the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority.
State corporations appointments: pic.twitter.com/C5YNXXsISo
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) January 21, 2023
The appointments, which were made by various Cabinet Secretaries, have been met with mixed reactions from political analysts and members of the public.
Some have praised the appointments as a step towards promoting diversity and inclusivity in leadership positions, while others have criticized them as nepotistic and a sign of the government’s lack of commitment to merit-based appointments.
Treasury CS Njunguna Ndungu and Trade CS Moses Kuria have also made appointments to other state corporations, including the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Standards Council.
Critics have expressed concern that many of these appointments are being made without proper consultation or scrutiny, raising questions about the transparency and accountability of the government’s decision-making process.
These appointments have brought to light the ongoing political tensions surrounding the selection of leaders for key roles in the government.
Some have called for a more rigorous and transparent process to be put in place to ensure that appointments are made based on merit and qualifications, rather than political connections.
