This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
On October 7, 2019, a storm was brewing among the staff of Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec), formerly known as Rural Electrification Authority.
The controversy centered around the planned recruitment of a senior assistant human resource manager, with insiders revealing that the process was not being conducted fairly.
According to sources, the parastatal management had made changes to the finance, administration, human resource, and supplies department, which had raised eyebrows among staff members.
One of the key issues was the planned recruitment of Moraa Munaweza, a family friend of Everlyn Koech, the head of the human resource department. Koech was accused of openly lobbying for Munaweza to land the position, despite the fact that Munaweza was currently working at the Geothermal Development Corporation.
It was alleged that Koech and Munaweza had worked together at the Geothermal Development Corporation, where Munaweza had become unpopular due to her behavior. However, at Rerec, those who had worked with Munaweza at the other station were worried about the potential consequences of her arrival.
General Manager, Corporate Services, Rose Mkalama, and Manager, Legal Services, Sharon Tugee, were said to be uncomfortable with the recruitment process, fearing that it could lead to investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Documents obtained by our investigative team showed that the initial requirements for the position of assistant human resource manager included a degree and a master's degree. However, without involving other managers, Koech wrote to the Public Service Commission to waive these requirements, pushing for only a higher national diploma, which Munaweza possessed.