Kibaki appoints two to head commissions

By BIKETI KIKECHI

President Kibaki on Wednesday night made two appointments considered neutrals in the country’s political divide to chair the constitution implementation and the revenue allocation commissions.

The President appointed lawyer Charles Nyachae, son of former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae, to chair the crucial Constitution Implementation Commission.

He also picked former Central Bank of Kenya Governor Micah Cheserem to be incharge of the Revenue Implementation Commission.

Mr Nyachae beat seven others, who had applied to chair the new Constitution that President Kibaki promulgated in August.

Nyachae is a graduate of the London School of Economics and an advocate of the High Court.

He has been practicing law for the last 25 years.

Nyachae has been involved in civil society reform programmes and served as the Chairman of the council of the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya chapter, and also served on the council of the LSK.

Cheserem had been tipped for the equally powerful Commission for Revenue Allocation shortlist with leading economist David Ndii.

Cheserem worked for Unilever as the regional boss in Kenya and Malawi before joining CBK and most recently took charge of the Capital Markets Authority.

It appears President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga heeded calls by Kenyans to leave out their political confidants.

On Tuesday, Gichugu MP Martha Karua and lawyer Paul Muite questioned the names of those who were short-listed and the interviewing panel. They said that some candidates were close associates of President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.