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Citizen Weekly

Sunday 10 May 2015

Coast leaders say PSC playing tribe card game

Coast leaders now want the Public  Service Commission investigated for allegedly extending the term of Transport ministry chief engineer Paul Mukiri Thumbi even after attaining retirement age blocking Boniface Beja from taking over.
Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo and Kinango MP Gonzi Rai have vowed to ensure that Beja who allegedly beat everybody in an interview last year be given the position of chief engineer mechanical, without further delay.
Speaking at Jeffery Primary School in Kilifi last week, Rai and Madzayo claimed Beja who hails from Kinango in Kwale county is being frustrated by corrupt and tribal cartels at the ministry because he is from a small tribe.
“This is a matter we will never let go. How can someone who merit be blocked from taking over a position he not only qualifies but beat everybody in the interviews because he comes from a marginalised community?” asked Madzayo.
Rai claimed it was unfair for the PSC chair Margaret Kobia and suspended cabinet secretary Michael Kamau to have kept Beja’s promotion pending after the interviews and declaration of results in April and July 2014 respectively.
“PSC conveyed the decision to the ministry that Beja had passed and was to be appointed chief engineer mechanical but powerful forces overturned the decision and Mukiri who had failed the interview was awarded the position,” lamented Rai.
But even as Rai piled pressure, Madzayo went further and tabled the issue at the senate resulting to PSC overturning its decision and reinstating Beja as CE (M) with effect from July 16 2014 after Mukiri’s attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
Mukiri who retired on April 19 2015 after clocking 60 years is yet to vacate office with rumours PSC which pledged to have Beja occupy the post having secretly given Mukiri an extension of more years to continue working.
Sources in the ministry of Transport say it has been a long wait for Beja to get to the position ever since he floored all in the interviews in April last year and it is becoming apparent that the victory in an interview alone is not enough if you are not coming from the right community or enjoying the patronage of powerful godfathers, it is argued.
“This act by PSC is inconsiderate, unacceptable and in violation of the constitution. We want Mukiri out of that office and the CE (M) designate Beja takes over immediately,” said Madzayo
Rai and Madzayo urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to move in and investigate the PSC chair and Mukiri for their alleged interest in wanting to retain the post to only one person.
Madzayo claims that the corrupt tribal cartels are blocking Beja because of the stakes they have been reaping from dubious deals.
“What these people think about is how best to cover up for their dubious deals through retaining the lucrative positions but this time, even we from the small tribes will occupy such posts whether they like it or not,” said the former Industrial Court judge.
The ministry of Transport is known for its multi-billion shillings tenders that have been a battle field for corrupt individuals who engage in massive corruption.
Kamau has stepped aside to pave way for investigations into alleged corrupt deals from a number of multi-million tenders since the Jubilee government took over in April 2013.
Madzayo said Mukiri’s term extension is a clear indication that corruption is deeply rooted in the ministry.

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