Justice Byrum Onganya suspends appointments of Francis Muthaura as the chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
In his ruling Justice Ongnaya noted that the appointment of Muthaura alongside Charles Makori Omanga, Mukesh Shah, Leonard Ithau and Susan Mudhune to KRA board should be halted pending a hearing and determination of the suit.
On Tuesday activist Okiya Omtatah filed a case seeking to have the gazette notice appointing Muthaura as KRA Board chairperson suspended.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, Omtatah maintained that Muthaura was not the best candidate for the job since he was beyond the retirement age yet the country has a million other people capable of taking up the position.
[caption caption="Activist Okiya Omtata"]
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"First of all the President Uhuru Kenyatta did not follow the new constitution in the appointments. In the old laws, people used to serve at the pleasure of Head of State but with this Constitution, he doesn't have powers to handpick," the activist stated.
"Now public servants are appointed on merit and again Muthaura is 67 years of age which is beyond the retirement years a public officer. There are many Kenyans out there who can apply for the job and get appointed," he noted.
The activist further noted that president Kenyatta was overstepping his mandate by abruptly firing officials appointed to various government institutions.
The President, in a special May 23 gazette notice, stated that Muthaura would serve as the KRA Chairman until October 20, 2019.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporation Act and section 6(2) (a) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act, I, Uhuru Kenyatta, President and Commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint Francis K. Muthaura to be the chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority,” the President stated in the gazette notice.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta"]
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Prior to the appointment, Muthaura, 71, has been serving as the Lapsset Development Authority chairman.
