Omtatah challenges appointment of poll losers to State jobs

Activist Okiya Omtatah has filed a case challenging last week’s State appointments that saw a handful of losers in the 2017 General Election appointed to key parastatal jobs.

In his petition filed on Monday morning, Omtatah argues that the appointments gazetted on Friday, February 8 were were not done in a “fair, open, competitive, merit-based and through an inclusive process.”

The activist insists the appointed individuals were handpicked, which he maintains is in breach of court orders and the Constitution.

“On 4th and 8th February 2019, the respondents defied the said Orders when they handpicked and appointed individuals to be chairpersons and members of boards of State corporations and state agencies,” argues Omtatah.

He wants the appointments declared invalid, null and void.

The National Executive, Public Service Commission, State Corporations Advisory Committee and the Attorney General have been named as respondents.

Former Governors David Ole Nkedianye (Kajiado), Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), former Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu and former Machakos gubernatorial contestant Wavinya Ndeti are some of those who were appointed to head the boards of various government agencies.

Also on the list was former Taita Taveta Woman Representative Joyce Lay, Kalembe Ndile and Gonzi Rai, who lost the Kinango Parliamentary seat.