This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 17, 2019, Kenya's Jubilee government made headlines when the ICT Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru, reappointed a deceased individual, Robert Kochale, to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).
According to records, Robert Kochale passed away on May 29, 2018, while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital. His death was publicly announced, and his burial ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including those from the ICT ministry. The news of his demise was also gazetted by KFCB.
When confronted about the reappointment, KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua defended the decision, stating that it was a 'small mistake' from the appointment board. He claimed that the Board presented the notification to the Ministry for replacement and inadvertently reappointed the deceased individual.
However, many Kenyans took to Twitter to express their outrage, calling the reappointment a 'small issue being blown out of proportion.' They argued that the deceased individual was entitled to a salary, allowances, and held a public position, which would have gone unnoticed if not for the public outcry.
Some Twitter users compared the reappointment to previous 'small mistakes' that had cost the nation billions of shillings. They emphasized that such mistakes are not trivial and can have far-reaching consequences.
