This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
As the Senator of Nairobi City County and Chairman of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association, I am writing to express my deep disappointment over the recent appointment of Hon. Mary Wambui Munene as Chair of the National Employment Authority.
On October 17, 2019, I had the privilege of witnessing the President assent to the National Employment Authority Bill, a legislation I had championed as a nominated MP between 2013 and 2015. The bill aimed to create an institution that would focus on the state of unemployment in Kenya, providing job centres, soft skill trainings, and a Labour Market Information System to connect jobseekers with available opportunities.
However, the recent appointment of Hon. Mary Wambui Munene as Chair of this institution goes against the specific provision of Section 10 (2) of the National Employment Authority Act. The Act explicitly requires that the Chairperson have at least seven years of experience in Human Resource Management or its equivalent.
As someone who has served alongside Hon. Mary Wambui Munene in the 11th Parliament and has been a member of The National Alliance party, I have confidence in her abilities. However, I strongly believe that she is not the right person to lead the National Employment Authority at this critical juncture.
I urge her to politely decline this appointment and allow someone with the necessary experience and qualifications to take the reins. I have instructed my lawyers and those of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association to file a petition seeking to quash this appointment.
Despite this setback, I remain hopeful that the vision of the National Employment Authority can still be achieved. It requires a vision carrier with knowledge of the subject matter and the passion to drive it, especially at its inception.
