The panel responsible for selecting candidates for the role of chairperson of the newly formed Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) has denied allegations it made choices based on tribal and gender bias.
The Business Daily reports the panel has presented three names to President Uhuru Kenyatta, who will choose a chairperson from them, but has come in for criticism the selection process did not meet constitutional provisions on ethnic and gender balance as all seven shortlisted candidates came from one ethnic community.
In a statement, the panel said the process was conducted based on merit.
“We take this earliest opportunity to clarify that the process was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and that the candidates the panel settled are those it saw fit to hold the position of the chairperson based on pure merit and competence,” Stephen Mutoro, the vice chairperson of the selection committee, said.
The panel comprises members from the Media Council, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK), the Institute of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) and the Ministry of ICT.
Kenyatta has 14 days to make an appointment after receiving the three names.
It is the latest occasion recently of a selection process being criticised, with COFEK having launched a lawsuit against the appointment of Kenya ICT Authority chief executive officer (CEO) Victor Kyalo, terming it as a non-competitive appointment and unconstitutional.
