Water CS Eugene Wamalwa dissolves irrigation board

Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has dissolved the National Irrigation Board (NIB) over boardroom wars. In a press conference yesterday, Mr Wamalwa said he accepted a request for early retirement from Public Service by general manager, Daniel Barasa following the deterioration in relations between the board and management. Barasa resigned as a general manager as Gitonga Mugambi took over in acting capacity.

He said: “Following the standoff between the board and management on NIB over two weeks ago, I issued a directive which was not complied with. Upon the expiry of the notice and defiance to comply with the directive and the resultant state of paralysis, which has affected operations in this this key institution, I did yesterday dissolved the board in its entirety.”

The board members whose appointments were revoked include Sammy Letema (chairman), Antony Mwaura, Jasper Imungi, Ezra Odondi Odhiambo, Isaack Kipyego Maiyo, Pacifica Wekesa, Teresa Muthoni among others. The CS said he will reconstitute the board, adding that the first task of the new board will be to recruit a new CEO within the next three months.

He said the reconstitution of the board was necessary because three of its members, including the chairman, were serving public officers in various public universities contrary to the circular from the Chief of Staff in the Public Service. In August 2014, MPs questioned top officials of NIB led by Barasa following the award of a Sh14.2 billion Galana-Kulalu farm project.