Troubled and unsettled KEPROBA CEO Peter Biwott’s tenure may end abruptly.
This is after the KEPROBA Board advertised for the position of the CEO.
Board Chairman Jas Bedi said Biwott’s first term in office is coming to an end in April.
Bedi said on 4th April, Biwott will not be the CEO thus the need to advertise for the Job.
“We have to advertise for the job. It’s going to be competitive bidding and there is no sacred Cow in Kenya. What do you do when somebody’s term comes to an end? You advertise,” he said.
He added that the Board has not been driven by the allegations and accusations against the CEO by staff.
In September last year, the EACC launched investigations into allegations that the Export Promotion Council (EPC) and Brand Kenya CEO Peter Biwott has abused office and hired staff from the Kalenjin Community to fill senior and lucrative positions.
EACC through Deputy Director, report and Data Centre Susan Kinyeki, wrote to the then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives Chris Kiptoo to establish the truth and take appropriate action.
Kiptoo was on Tuesday transferred to the Environment and Forestry Ministry.
It’s not clear if he had acted on the EACC letter.
In the letter, EACC said it had received allegations that Biwott made an approval to enable non -technical staff to travel out of the Country in disregard of the nomination that had been done by the PS office.
“He allegedly bullies, harasses and demoralizes staff through irregular demotions and or intimidation and fabrication of lies and witch -hunting against staff,” the EACC wrote.
EACC added that Peter Biwott attempted to take shs 25 million house loan from the EPC Housing Fund, with no guarantee on who will take up the loan.
When reached for comment last year on the allegations, Biwott was reluctant to respond.
After the story was published, he claimed Hot News was biased and was not “patient enough” to wait for his response”.
KEPROBA’s s Board members are PS Trade, Attorney -General or his representative and PS National Treasury.
Its headed by Jas Bedi as the non-executive Chairperson, while Jacqueline Muga, Kathleen Kihanya and Mark Bichachi are serving as private sector representatives on the Board for three years.
The advert in local dailies said the new Agency is seeking to recruit a competent and visionary Chief Executive Officer.
The Board said in the advert that the CEO should be a person who, together with the Board of Directors, will provide leadership and steer the Agency towards attaining its mandate, mission and vision.
“The Chief Executive Officer will report to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for providing effective strategic leadership by guiding the operations of the Agency on day to day basis as well as implementing activities in accordance with the Law, Government Regulations and the guidance provided by the Board from time to time.,” the advert read.
The Board said the CEO’s tenure will be a three-year contract renewable once subject to satisfactory performance.
The Board warned against canvassing saying it will lead to automatic disqualification.
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