Setback in search for new Standards boss

By Luke Anami

Trouble is brewing at Kenya Bureau of Standards over who should be the next Managing Director.

The institution’s board sat last week on Wednesday evaluating nine candidates whose names had been forwarded by consultancy firm Deloitte. After burning the midnight oil, three names were forwarded to the Industrialisation ministry for consideration for appointment.

Documents in our possession indicate that the acting MD Eva Oduor was ranked top, with her predecessor Joseph Kosgey second. A Mr Korir came third. But now, a section of manufacturers have issued ultimatums to the Government that Oduor should not be appointed MD.

"We have learned that three short listed names have been forwarded to the parent ministry for appointment. Of the three names, we have reservations with one of them, acting MD Eva Oduor," Mr Polycarp Igathe, Vice-Chairman Kenya Association of Manufacturers said.

"It is manufacturers who have the largest stake at Kebs yet we were removed from the board. Even though we no longer have a say, we want to make it clear that we will not remit Inspection or Standard levy to Kebs should she be appointed the MD."

Igathe, who heads the committee on Standards at KAM, accused the acting MD of having broken the law in the process of appointing a company to inspect a second-hand motor vehicle contract, stating that manufacturers had no faith in her leadership.

Under the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) Act, a company whose contract has ended can only be allowed a 10 per cent extension of the original period. Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre (Jevic), whose three year contract ended in May this year, had its period extended for another 3 and half month as Kebs advertised for the motor inspection services tender.

Extended contract

The former MD Joseph Koskey had allowed the variation of 10 per cent extension as stipulated in the PPOA Act but Oduor went ahead to extend it once more last month after Kebs failed to appoint a company for the motor vehicle import services.

Documents in our possession indicate that Oduor may have broken the law in renewing the contract of Jevic since the law allows only one extension.

"Only manufacturers can grow the export industry in this country. If we don’t have a regulator who can ensure that the country does not allow in substandard and counterfeits goods, then we will not be able to grow our export economy," Igathe, who is also the MD of HACO industries said.

"There are indications that she will be appointed. What we are saying is that she has failed the integrity test as spelled out in Chapter six of the Constitution. We are not dictating to the minister who to pick but should he decide to appoint her, we will mobilise our members to oppose it."

But when contacted, acting Industrialisation Minister Amason Kingi dismissed the threats as uncalled for. "I have not even received the names. This is a nomination process started by Deloitte. Once the names are forwarded, I will choose one of them based on the terms, rules and regulations of the process," Kingi said.

Kingi said he did not wish to be drawn into the debate of who should be appointed MD but wondered what interest the manufacturers had in the process.

"The process of identifying the MD for Kebs has been going on. Why did they wait until it was almost over before raising their concerns? What is making them think I will pick her? What interests do they have in the running of Kebs?" Kingi posed.

Even as the minister dismissed the manufacturer’s claims, Igathe said the decision by Oduor to reinstate managers found to have allowed importation of substandard goods was an indicator that she was out to kill the sector.

Wrong message

"We have no problem with her as an individual, but as the person in charge she has sent the wrong message to us that she is willing to allow substandard goods back to our shelves. Why did she reinstate managers who her predecessor found culpable of having been compromised?" Igathe asked.

"She represents a cartel and we are convinced she wants to use her position to fundraise for her minister’s party (read ODM)," said Igathe.

But Kingi said he would not be cowed into making a decision and dismissed the claims that Kebs was being used as a conduit to raise funds to finance next year’s election.

Industrial observers see the tussle as an extension of PNU and ODM wars over leadership of crucial parastatal bodies.