Plot to have Kikuyu land Auditor General position – Weekly Citizen

Talk is rife that powerful Mount Kenya forces surrounding Uhuru Kenyatta are pushing to have one of their own as the next Auditor- General to replace Edward Ouko whose term of office ended in August.

At one time Uhuru chided Ouko in public after a series of allegations had been made against the performance of his office.

Ouko was at loggerheads with Jubilee MPs who called for his removal citing corruption in the office of the Auditor General over tender procurement. Ouko then later sued President Uhuru and Parliament in a bid to block his ouster from office.

In his application filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Otiende Omolo, Ouko sought to have the speaker and clerk to commit a petition for his removal before parliament cancelled.

He had submitted that Uhuru should not be allowed to sign recommendation by the national assembly to have a tribunal investigate him, thereby forcing him to step aside, stating that the legislators rushed the hearing process he termed as malicious.

“Given the malicious nature, the unprecedented fast-tracking and unfair manner that the process was undertaken, the applicant (Ouko) is apprehensive that the process will irreparably violate his fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the constitution,” said Omolo.

Weekly Citizen has information that Uhuru has received three names to forward one to parliament for consideration within seven days to replace Ouko, for eight years non-renewable term.

Former Deloitte East Africa CEO Sammy Onyango chaired a seven-man team that picked the three.

Among the three is said to be one lady for gender balancing process. Initial reports indicated that deputy Auditor General William Agunda being a Luo like Ouko, is likely not to get the slot.

Those claiming Agunda’s fate is sealed argue that Stephen Masha was deputy Controller of Budget and was interviewed for the position but never landed the slot and instead, he was by-passed after the exit of Agnes Odhiambo. The current Controller of Budget is Margaret Nyakango.

For Auditor General positions, 17 candidates were interviewed. Apart from Otieno, others were Abdullahi Abdi, a Somali of Kenyan origin who ran for Tarbai constituency seat in 2017.

From Mt Kenya, those interviewed were Francis Njenga, Kiambu county finance and economic planning CEC Nancy Gathangu with roots in Nyeri and Denis Kariuki from Nyeri.

Others are Peter Kitonyo from Kitui, David Gichana from Nyamira, Sylvester Kiini from Makueni and Leonard Lari Rang’ala from Busia.

The list had Kamar Kipkoech (Elgeyo-Marakwet) David Michuki (Kiambu), Denis Theuri (Nyeri) Leonard Rang’ala (Busia), Calistus Wekesa (Bungoma), Joseph Masambu (Bungoma) Rugera Alex Nthiga (Meru), Owuor Moses (Migori), Meshack Obiero (Siaya), David Muchoki (Kiambu), Elizabeth Wangui (Nyeri).

The panel received 70 applications but only 17 were shortlisted. It is imperative to note that of the females who applied only those from Mt Kenya were shortlisted.