The association’s chairman Churchill Owano explained that the appointment should be revoked because the current chairman Abel Onyango’s term has not expired/XINHUA FILE
The association’s chairman Churchill Owano explained that the appointment should be revoked because the current chairman Abel Onyango’s term has not expired.
“The replacement of one of our members as chairman of the KMLTTB is both insensitive, discriminatory and does not conform to the provisions of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.”
“Onyango was legally and duly appointed as chairman in September 2012 for a three year term that is expected to end in September 2015.”
“The purported replacement of the chair with Alex Chemtai did not comply with the rights and interests of disabled persons,” observed Owano.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the chairman added that they will move to court if the appointment is not revoked.
The association further urged the President to consider more of their members in future appointments to ensure they are well represented across the government sectors as stipulated by the Constitution.
“Article 54 of the Constitution elaborates that the State shall ensure that at least five percent of the public in elective and appointive bodies are persons with disabilities.”
“With his replacement, the State disregards the rule of law and demeans persons with disability contrary to provisions of the constitution,” he added.
The President’s appointment of 26 Parastatal heads has sparked major controversy with many accusing him of sidelining the youth.
The National Youth Council last Monday urged President Kenyatta to revoke the appointments.
The council argued that majority of those appointed do not represent the youthful majority in the country, arguing that most of them are political losers and recycled retirees.
The council chairman Clement Ayungo said Kenyatta and his deputy were going against their own manifesto which propelled them to power.
“The Cabinet has no single youth, there’s no single youth holding Permanent Secretary position and now the parastatal heads are being appointed in total exclusion of the youth,” he complained.
The council officials said unless the new appointments are revoked, the youth stands to lose because and are likely to lose hope of getting jobs under the new government.
The Deputy President has since defended the appointments, insisting that all factors, including regional balance were considered.
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