Raila asks Kebs boss to stay put

Business

By Standard Team

Prime minister Raila Odinga has intervened in the row over the appointment of Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) managing director Joseph Koskey.

The PM directed Koskey to continues performing his duties until his office gives the final word on the issue.

Last week, a row broke out between Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey and his PS Karanja Kibicho, over the appointment of Koskey.

In a letter signed by his Personal Assistant, Caroli Omondi, Raila told the PS that any existing dispute would be resolved.

“In the meantime, all parties concerned are advised to refrain from commenting or taking any action that may be prejudicial to the determination of the issue by the Prime Minister. The status quo should be maintained,” said the letter.

The PS has been opposed to Koskey’s appointment.

Apparently, the PS and the minister had exchanged ‘not very friendly letters’ over the issue.

On Friday last week, the minister wrote to the PS telling him to give Koskey all the cooperation he needs.

This was after the PS tried to accuse Koskey of insubordination the first day that he reported to work.

Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua also misinterpreted the PM’s recommendation that the status quo should remain.

Mutua claimed that the status quo means that Koskey would get out of office and former acting MD Joel Kioko would return to the office.

But immediately Mutua made the comments, the Industrialisation minister fired off a letter to inform him that the meaning of ‘maintaining the status quo’ is to maintain the status as it is.

Water and Irrigation minister Charity Ngilu has defended her industrialisation colleague saying the minister had done the right thing because he acted based on technical advice given to him.

“The newly appointed Kebs MD Mr Koskey is competent enough for the job and the minister is right to have picked on him and he needs to take up the job immediately,” she added.

The water minister said a lot of times the parastatal jobs were political appointments where the minister in charge has discretion.

Ngilu told off government spokesman Alfred Mutua for meddling into the matter saying the appointment was the preserve of the Industrialization minister who was competent and better placed to deal with it.

“This is not an issue for the government spokesman to say what should or should not be done. This is for the minister in charge of the parastatal to deal with after all he has picked a Kenyan and not a foreigner,” she added.

Meanwhile, members of the National Standard’s Council have said that the PS and the Council chairman were not sincere in their opposition to the appointment of the new MD.

“The PS was part of the process contacted by the board in the search for a new MD. Why was he quiet when he became aware of the rift by the chairman and other members,” a source close to Kebs said.

The source said the NSC had done “a superb” job until it arrived at five people who were qualified for the job but wanted to vet them to three.

“It appears some of us had made a promise to others and they no want to create confusion” added the source.

The position of Kebs CEO became available after former MD Kioko Mangeli was sacked over a controversial contract with a fuel-testing firm.

 

Business
Premium Ruto's food security hopes facing storm amid fake fertiliser scam
Real Estate
Premium Affordable housing: Will State's data-backed action now pay off?
Business
Premium Nairobi business community plans protest as over 700 containers held at port
By Peter Muiruri 34 mins ago
Real Estate
Premium Building to the skies, but at what cost?