ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru on Friday, October 18, 2019, moved to rectify his earlier mistake after re-appointing Robert Kochalle, a man who died on May 28, 2018.
In a special issue of the Kenya Gazette, he replaced the deceased with Charity Kochalle, alleged to be Robert's wife.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11A (e) of the Film and Stage Plays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology, re-appoints Gathoni Kung’u, Charity Kochalle, Nereah Alouch Okanga as members of the Kenya Film Classification Board, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 21st October, 2019," read the gazette notice.
A cross-check at Kochalle's obituary indicated that Robert was the husband to Charity Kochalle and the late Elizabeth Kochalle.
Earlier the same day, KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua had taken to Twitter to absolve the CS for the error, stating that the mistake was not to be blamed on him.
"The board presented the notification to the ministry for replacement and inadvertently he was re-appointed. It was not CS Mucheru's mistake at all," read an excerpt of the post.
The new announcement, has, however, sparked reactions from various individuals, many of whom responded with disbelief to the stated appointment.
" CS Mucheru now appoints Charity Kochalle, wife to the deceased man he had appointed earlier to KFCB board... This country is just sick," one user posed.
"Ok ok... Pull up...pull up... Did CS Mucheru just revoke the appointment of dead Robert Kochalle and instead appointed his wife Charity Kochalle to the position?" another posted.
Other people took issue with the CS, whom they accused of blatantly disregarding the law with both appointments.
"Is Mucheru aware that abuse of office can lead him to losing this post? He isn't untouchable and he should give us a better appointee before the day ends," a user stated.
