Activist Okiya Omtatah Files Case to Challenge Appointment of Election Losers to State Jobs

Activist Okiya Omtatah has moved to court to challenge the appointment of election losers to state parastatals by President Kenyatta.

In a case filed on Monday, Omtatah argues that the appointments made through a gazette notice dated February 8th are unconstitutional.

He says that the appointments were not made through a “fair, open, competitive, merit-based and an inclusive process.”

He argues that the appointments are in breach of the law since the individuals were handpicked. 

“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 asks the court to declare the appointments invalid, null and void.

Former Governors David Nkedianye (Kajiado), Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), former Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu and former Machakos gubernatorial aspirant Wavinya Ndeti are some of the losers in the last elections who have been appointed to head the boards of various state agencies.

Others are former Taita Taveta Woman Representative Joyce Lay, former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile and Gonzi Rai, who lost the Kinango Parliamentary seat.

Omtatah lists the National Executive, Public Service Commission, State Corporations Advisory Committee and the Attorney-General as respondents in the case.