Members of Parliament have rejected a report by the Communication Committee that had recommended the removal of a state officer from the board of the Media Council of Kenya.
The Committee had come to a decision that Tabitha Mutemi, who is also the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Corporate Affairs Manager, be ejected from MCK and that ICT CS Joe Mucheru constitutes a tribunal that will process the removal Mutemi for holding to government jobs.
During their Wednesday, April 28, sitting, the lawmakers voted to dismiss a report of the Communication committee recommending the removal of Tabitha Mutemi as a board member of the Media Council of Kenya.
MPs explained that they could not let their floor be used by individuals to settle boardroom wars.
Tabitha Mutemi's appointment to MCK board had caused jitters after reports emerged that she was still a commissioner at the IEBC.
Some of the lawmakers defended her by saying that her responsibilities at the new job did not amount to full time requirements.
At the beginning of March, IEBC had confirmed that Mutemi, who is the institution's Corporate Affairs and Events Manager, contravened the law by accepting another public position.
In the letter, the electoral body claimed that it had not consulted or notified the commission of her new role in the council, promising to take action against Mutemi.
"In view of the foregoing development, the Commission will undertake action at an appropriate time in accordance with the IEBC Act and its Human Resource Procedure Manual," said IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo had opposed Mutemi's appointment arguing that the secretariat would no longer recognize Mutemi as a board member, sparking a back-and-forth between the different interested parties.
The CEO based his decision on a 2016 directive by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua that prohibited state officials and public servants from holding any other office in state parastatals.
In her defence, Mutemi, however, through her lawyers-Kilonzo and Company Advocates, responded saying her dismissal from the board was illegal stating that the appointing authority, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, was the only one who could reverse the appointment.
