Another official rejects President Ruto's state job appointment

Hussein Tene Debasso, who was recently dismissed as the chairperson of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) board by President William Ruto, is the latest to turn down a new appointment by the head of state.

Others who have recently declined appointments by Ruto are former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, who had been appointed to the position of chairman of the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre, and former nominated senator Millicent Omanga who declined an appointment to the Nairobi Rivers Commission

Hussein had been appointed to the National Youth Service (NYS) Council.

In a statement declining the appointment to NYS, Hussein expressed his gratitude for the appointment, which was made public through a Gazette Notice on October 15, 2024. He, however, cited personal reasons for his decision to decline the position.

"I Hussein Tene Debasso, immediate chairman, Kenya National Trading Corporation, wish to thankfully acknowledge my appointment as member of the Board, National Youth Service via Gazette Notice of 15th October 2024," he said.

"Owing to personal reasons, I have written to the President of the Republic of Kenya declining the appointment."

Debasso's appointment to the NYS Board was announced by Public Service and Human Capital Development Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi on November 15, 2024, with a term running until February 9, 2026.

Alongside Debasso’s appointment, Muturi also revoked the position of Ali Sahal Idris on the board.

On the same day, President Ruto replaced Debasso as KNTC chairperson with Evans Kidero, who was appointed for a three-year term, through Gazette Notice No. 14795.

Debasso's removal from the KNTC board follows his opposition to a directive by Investment, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, which sought the appointment of Lucy Anangwe as the KNTC’s managing director.

Edible oil scandal

Debasso had refused to approve Anangwe’s appointment after her name surfaced in a special audit by the Auditor-General over the Sh6.5 billion edible oil procurement scandal.

At the time of the scandal, Anangwe was KNTC’s Head of Finance and Account Manager before being promoted to General Manager of Strategy, Risk, and Compliance.

The KNTC has faced intense scrutiny since January 2024, when former managing director Pamela Mutua resigned amid the ongoing investigation into the Sh6.5 billion edible oil scandal.

Investigations revealed that companies linked to individuals in government had been awarded a single-sourced contract to import the oil.

The corruption probe began in earnest after it was revealed that the KNTC had imported 125,000 tonnes of duty-free cooking oil at inflated prices. Reports suggest that government officials involved in the scandal had inflated prices by an average of $7 per litre, costing the government an additional Sh875 million.

The controversy surrounding the deal has drawn attention from MPs, especially following concerns raised by the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee over the procurement process.

In response to the scandal, President Ruto ordered investigations into the officials involved, directing the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to ensure the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened inquiries.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also launched probes, leading to the arrest of KNTC officials and a bank officer linked to the procurement of edible oil.

Further investigations have pointed to possible interference by high-ranking government officials, who are alleged to have pushed for the consideration of specific firms in the procurement process.

The ongoing inquiry has focused on accusations of improper decision-making by KNTC directors, including claims that one parastatal chair's company was favoured, with payment made for goods that now remain idle in the KNTC warehouse in Nairobi.