Gusii leaders clash over recent State appointments, some say region was overlooked

Politicians from Gusii region have differed over the latest appointments of directors in State agencies with members of the Opposition faulting the government for favouring individuals from regions where Jubilee draws it strongest support.

The leaders, the majority allied to the Opposition and who spoke at separate funerals in North Mugirango and Borabu constituencies, said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointments to key State offices favoured individuals from Central Kenya and Rift Valley.

However, Prof Sam Ongeri and Eng Samuel Maugo, who are themselves State appointees, defended the Government against the accusations and said the President had appointed numerous individuals from the region to sit on the Boards of State agencies. Ongeri was appointed the Kenya Ambassador to UN-Habitat while Maugo is serving on the Board of the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“We should respect the Government of the day whatever the circumstances. I view as baseless the argument that President Kenyatta has sidelined our region because I am serving, and more than 20 others who were appointed from Gusii are in office. Why should we complain?” posed Ongeri.

However, MPs Ben Momanyi (Borabu), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu South), Charles Geni (North Mugirango), Alice Chae (Nyamira Woman MP), Kennedy Mong’are (Nyamira Senator), Joseph Kiangoi (East Africa Legislative Assembly), Aben Rogena – Sonko (Borabu parliamentary aspirant) and Dr Grace Nyamongo (Woman MP aspirant) claimed that key appointments from the region were based on family connections.

Fairness

They asked the Government to consider more people from the region for State jobs and threatened to withdraw their support if this was not done.

Onyonka and Momanyi said President Kenyatta’s appointments from the region were negligible when compared to the slots reserved for individuals from Central Kenya and Rift Valley where the President and his deputy draw much their ethnic support.

“We should not be content with the few appointments the President made. If one looks at the list of jobs given out in parastatals, 100 were given to individuals from Central Kenya, 75 to Rift Valley while only four were allocated to the Kisii community. Is this fair?” posed Momanyi over figures he did not verify. Some of the leaders were speaking during a funeral service in Maagonga Village.