Wamae reappointed as chairman of New KCC

By Boniface Ongeri

President Kibaki has re-appointed 76-year-old Matu Wamae as the chairman of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC).

He was appointed in a gazette notice dated Monday February 21, but sources at the Attorney General’s office said the appointment announced yesterday by the Minister for Cooperatives was backdated.

"The gazette notice was published on February, Wednesday February 23, but backdated to Monday," said the source.

Controversy had gripped the process to recruit a new Managing Director last weekend, when board members complained that Wamae illegally chaired a preparatory meeting despite the expiry of his term.

"He chaired a special board meeting on Sunday and we view that as an illegality that was allowed to happen," said a board member.

On Sunday, reporters from The Standard went to KCC offices where they found the former Mathira MP chairing the meeting.

Sparked outrage

The scenario sparked outrage from board members, with a section complaining that it was illegal for him to chair the meeting since his term had expired.

"He stormed the meeting to chair the process. Wamae is a stranger because his term expired," a senior board member complained.

New KCC has been operating without an MD since late 2009 after Cooperative Minister Joseph Nyagah declined to renew the term for then MD Francis Mwangi.

Milcah Mugo has since been heading the company in an acting capacity for the last one and a half years, despite calls for her confirmation from farmers and other interested parties.

Confusion reigned at the New KCC head office in Industrial area on Sunday, with some board members feeling uneasy with Wamae’s presence.

Contacted for comment over the new stalemate to get the new MD, Wamae said he would "not (comment) at this stage" through a Short Message Service (SMS).

Wamae had served two terms of three years each and will now be in office until 2013. Contacted on Sunday, the New KCC Corporative Affairs Manager Gladys Some confirmed the meeting was to interview possible candidates for the MD position, but declined to give the progress.