Joseph Kinyua blocks Ipoa from hiring new CEO
Independent Policing Oversight Authority chairman Macharia Njeru addresses journalists at his office in Nairobi on August 4, 2016. The agency's chief executive officer, Joel Mabonga, has not sought an extension of his term. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ipoa’s business services director Maina Njoroge is currently the acting CEO.
State House has stepped in to avert a looming leadership crisis at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) by ordering the board to suspend the recruitment of a chief executive.
In a letter to Ipoa board chairman Macharia Njeru, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua expresses concern that the board may not be through with the exercise before their term expires in May.
“The term of the current membership of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority expires on May 2018.
"This office has information that you are in the process of recruiting a chief executive officer, a process that may not be complete before May,” Mr Kinyua’s March 28 letter reads.
The letter adds: “It has therefore been decided that the process to fill the vacant position of chief executive officer in your office be suspended until the incoming committee is in place.”
APPLICANTS
Ipoa asked qualified Kenyans to apply for the position of CEO on March 20 after the former holder of the position, Dr Joel Mabonga, withdrew his letter seeking an extension of his term.
The move by Dr Mabonga to withdraw his letter points to the souring relationship between the secretariat and the board over a period of time.
The outgoing CEO is now on terminal leave pending his formal exit on May 31, just a week after the current board’s term expires.
Ipoa’s business services director Maina Njoroge is currently the acting CEO.
DUTIES
Mr Njeru declined to give a direct response to the directive by Mr Kinyua or what his board was planning to do with the applications that may have been received.
“I will not discuss with you internal matters of the board. It would help if you focused more on issues that relate to holding police to account for their actions in accordance with Article 244 of the Constitution.
"My firm conviction is that the public will benefit more from responsible journalism,” he said.
In a further response, Mr Njeru said his board understands its roles.
“As a board, we have throughout our term served our country as a patriotic duty and were only motivated by doing what is in the best interest of the public,” he said.
With both the CEO and the board leaving at almost the same time, the agency will be left with only the secretariat under the leadership of an acting CEO.
