Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) director of communication Philip Etale has refuted recent allegations that Opposition leader Raila Odinga had a hand in recent appointments in boards of parastatals.
According to Etale, Raila has not nominated, recommended or appointed anyone for appointment in government hence the appointments should not be perceived as early fruits of the recent handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"For the media to refer to some of the recent appointees in various boards of parastatals as 'Raila men' simply because they are from Nyanza is simplistic, cheap and driven by malice," Etale quipped.
[caption caption="File image of Raila meeting Uhuru"]
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Among those appointed by Uhuru is Raila's former aide Caroli Omondi who was appointed for a three-year term as a board member of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK).
NOCK is expected to be a crucial installation in the government as Kenya moves towards being a petroleum exporting country.
Other appointees who were perceived as Raila's affiliates including former Members of Parliament John K'Obado (Uriri) and Martin Ogindo (Rangwe) who are set to join the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC).
A former ODM MP George Ogalo (Rangwe) was appointed to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board (NACADA).
One of the local dailies had termed the recent appointments as "Handshake Dividends" opining that Raila's allies had been rewarded.
The June 6 Gazette notice appointment drew wide criticism as some saw it as a maintenance of status quo by recycling former politicians and ex-government executives.
[caption caption="Wambui Nyutu with Uhuru"]
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Other notable appointees were Wambui Nyutu, the founder of Warembo na UhuRuto, Judith Wanjiku Kibaki, a daughter to retired President Mwai Kibaki and Margaret Wanjiru Saitoti, the wife of former Interior Minister George Saitoti.
