The Government takes into consideration a mix of skills and competencies when making appointments for individuals to serve in the Boards of Sugar factories, a Cabinet Secretary has told Senate.

Mr Mithika Linturi, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, told the lawmakers that the recruitment of managing directors is guided by the approved human resource instruments of the respective sugar factories.

“The purpose is to have competencies required for the achievements of sugar factories’ long-term objectives,” said CS Linturi on the floor of the Senate when he appeared to respond to Members’ Questions on Wednesday, February 28.

“The Board may recommend the removal of a member based on non- performance, non-attendance of meetings, unethical conduct or as set out in constitutive applicable law.”

The CS was responding to a question raised by Senator Tom Ojienda who wanted to know how members of Boards that run sugar factories are appointed and the criteria used in their appointments and dismissals.

The lawmaker also wanted the Cabinet Secretary to state the contractual terms and conditions for appointment of Managing Directors in state-owned sugar companies and also clarify whether they are uniform across all the companies. 

Senator Kajwang also wanted the CS to appraise the House the number of recruitment exercises for Managing Directors in state-owned sugar companies conducted since 2021.

“Could the Cabinet Secretary provide the longlist, shortlist and interview schedule, with corresponding scores in respect of each of the exercises, and disclose the respective reasons for disqualification of candidates?” asked The Senator.

The Senator also wanted the Government to put in place measures that will ensure effective oversight of Boards of Directors of state-owned sugar companies, particularly with regard to the appointment and dismissal of Managing Directors, to ensure that they adhere to the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability.

The CS told the House that contractual terms and conditions are uniform across all companies adding that they are appointed for a 3-year term renewable subject to evaluated performance.

The State owned sugar companies are Muhoroni, Miwani, Nzoia, Chemelil and Sony. 

Currently Muhoroni and Miwani sugar companies are under receivership hence under the management if receiver managers who are appointed by the Cabinet Secretary. 

The Ministry has put in place measures to ensure effective oversight of Board Directors with regard to appointment and dismissal of Managing Directors to ensure that they adhere to the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability.

The measures include the Human Resource instruments which guide appointments and dismissal of Managing directors, induction training for newly appointed Board directors which covers management issues of state corporation besides oversight function and mandate of Board of directors.

“During the induction training, the Board of Directors are taught the principles of governance, transparency and accountability,” said the CS.