Suitability of Kibaki's choice for budget office questioned

President Kibaki's choice of Controller of Budget has not gone down well with some Rift Valley MPs.

Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny termed the nomination of Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) Managing Director, William Kirwa, as "a wrong choice".

Kutuny said Mr Kirwa is under probe by the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives.

"Questions have been raised about his conduct at the helm of ADC. That is not a person you want to entrust with the national budget," said Kutuny.

The MP added the new Constitution needed individuals with a clean record who will gain the trust of Kenyans.

"I can assure you that Kirwa will not survive parliamentary vetting because we have a reputation of choosing the best suited people to head public offices. We intend to maintain that reputation," said Kutuny.

Kirwa’s nomination is seen as an attempt by President Kibaki to appease Rift Valley, whose leaders he is enticing into a political alliance for his succession.

Naivasha MP John Mututho who heads the Agriculture Committee confirmed to The Standard On Sunday Kirwa has been under probe for the last 18 months.

"I can only confirm we have been probing him. We have our findings which we expect to table before Parliament soon," he said.

Kutuny, however, said issues dogging Kirwa include the loss of about 1,800 livestock from ADC allegedly killed by snakes.

"The corporation has also lost land in the past and this brings to question the managerial qualities of Mr Kirwa," he added.

The MP called on the President to ensure that public officials are vetted before he nominates them to avoid embarrassment.

Kutuny, however, said they supported the nomination of Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice, Githu Muigai as Attorney General and Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecutions.

Pressure groups in Nyanza and Members of Parliament have denounced the President’s actions.

Nyanza civil society networks co-ordinator Betty Okero said the President ought to have consulted before making such an erratic decision.