Eva Nyambura
Former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo on Monday appeared before the Finance and Trade Parliamentary Committee for vetting as chairman of Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Chumo has rattled Kenyans online who feel that his appearance before the vetting committee was an audacious move as he is facing corruption charges over the loss of Sh4.5 billion in the procurement of faulty transformers.
On the vetting committee was Nyali MP and former investigative journo Mohammed Ali who brought up the graft allegations but was quickly shut down by the committee chair, Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo.
But the former MD who is facing similar charges alongside 18 other Kenya Power officials told the committee that he is a man of integrity and the allegations against him should not hinder him from getting the job.
“There was no single case that arose during my stay at KPLC and I look back with a lot of pride to that particular service,” he said.
When asked how much he is worth, Chumo said that he is worth at least Sh200 million but does not consider himself a rich man.
Read: DPP Unable To Prosecute Graft Suspects, Cites Lack Of Evidence
Kenyans were of a contrary opinion. They said:
The ongoing vetting of Ben Chumo is an indication that we are not serious about the war on corruption.
President @UKenyatta should have withdrawn his nomination of Chumo once he was arraigned in court last week.— Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) July 23, 2018
That Ben Chumo facing a multi-million (billion) corruption case is being interviewed by Parliament to be the Chair of Salaries Review Commission (SRC) is taking absurdity to a new level. Our MPs would have set a new moral bar (if they still had a bar) by openly dismissing him.
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) July 23, 2018
Dr Ben Chumo is brave man. He is facing corruption charges in court related to his tenure at KPLC. How can he ask the House vetting Committee to ratify his nomination for SRC chairmanship? This is horryfying!
— Edward Kisiang'ani (@ekisiangani) July 23, 2018
It is completely irrational, deceit and dishonest for @UKenyatta to retain Ben Chumo as nominee for @srckenya Chairman. It makes his declarations on corruption appallingly farce. Building Bridges Initiative identified corruption and lack of national ethos that must be addressed
— Ndung'u Wainaina (@NdunguWainaina) July 23, 2018
Former Kenya Power MD Ben Chumo is at Parliament Buildings for his SRC Chairmanship Position vetting by MPs despite having a major corruption case in Court.
We are truly a Banana Republic, aren't we?
— David Maina Ndung'u?? (@ItsDavidMaina) July 23, 2018
Earlier, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir who is a member of the committee had urged his colleagues to boycott the exercise.
“I refuse to be part of this ill thought out exercise. It will only harden those who support corruption,” he said.
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