The two were relieved of their duties after facing suspension over malpractices in the corporation/CFM
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 24 – Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has sacked National Housing Corporation Chairman Bosire Ogero and Managing Director James Ruitha.
The two were relieved of their duties after facing suspension over malpractices in the corporation.
“We have embarked on measures to address the apparent weaknesses particularly with respect to compliance with policy and ethical practice. In this respect I have already relieved from duty the chairman of the board, managing director and the officers found culpable,” Shitanda said.
They were accused of allocating more than one house to top government officials and staff members of the corporation.
“The main reason why they were relieved is the manner in which they handled the allocation policy, not to undeserving cases but some staff members were allocated up to 20 units,” he said.
Ogero and Ruitha had allocated themselves five and four houses respectively while the Finance Manager Manasseh Wandabwa had nine houses and the legal officer had 21 houses.
The post of the MD has been advertised while that of Ogero is awaiting completion of an audit report by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Grace Wanyonyi is the acting chairperson while Patrick Bucha will take up the office of the Managing Director in an acting capacity.
The minister has said that the allocation should be for deserving Kenyans.
“I have instructed the board and management to implement these polices in the allocation of houses on merit to ensure equity and fairness. No houses are reserved for any selected members of the society and all applicants are subject to the same criteria,” he assured.
Shitanda denied conflict of interest after his wife Betty Glorious Soita applied and secured a house in Kakamega after the set deadline.
He added that his wife was deserving as she had applied and passed through the normal procedure.
“My wife applied for a unit in Kakamega and got. We have not sold all of the units available out of the 80 units in the project. We still have some left and we have re-advertised the sale of the houses,” he said in defence.
He countered reports that the Head of the Civil Service Francis Kimemia was allocated houses in Kileleshwa along with other senior public servants.
“Kimemia does not have a house in Kileleshwa as he did not meet the criteria for allocation,” he said.
“Starehe Member of Parliament Margaret Wanjiru is among the 39 people out of 268 who had applied and benefited from the Kileleshwa project. She only has one house and not two as claimed. All public servants should have one house,” he added.
