New CCK directors to be appointed this month

By Winsley Masese

Nairobi, Kenya: Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) is expected to have a new board of directors in place before end of this month.

The change of board and possibly its corporate identity are part of the changes expected in the communication regulatory body which is to become the Communication Authority of Kenya. Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said that the selection panel has started off the exercise and expects to have the proposed names by Easter.

“The selection panel has started examining the names and possibly will submit 14 names and appoint seven names to sit in the board,” he said.

Pressure has mounted on the ministry to appoint new board members but Matiang’i said that the Constitution does not allow him to do so.

“The cabinet secretary cannot disband the board since the statute is very clear about that,” he said, arguing that the power to do that lies with the panel that constitutes both the commercial and government composition.

There was confusion about the manner of appointing board members to the Communication and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal and there were fears that the same could rock the authority.

“We advised the CAK to go to the high court to seek clarification and the latter concurred with the manner the appointment is going to be done,” said Matiang’i.