This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 18, 2019, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru made headlines with a bizarre appointment that left many Kenyans questioning the vetting process of government nominees.
Mr. Mucheru had appointed Robert Kochalle to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) in a special Gazette notice, but the appointment was met with public outcry after it was discovered that Mr. Kochalle had passed away on May 28, 2018.
Instead of revoking the appointment, Mr. Mucheru went a step further and replaced Mr. Kochalle with his widow, Charity Kochalle, in another Gazette notice dated October 18, 2019.
Ms. Kochalle's appointment has raised concerns about the presence of ghost workers in the public service, with many questioning how she was appointed without proper background checks.
The appointment has also sparked debate about the quality of vetting processes for government nominees, with many calling for a more thorough and transparent process.
According to reports, the KFCB had sponsored Mr. Kochalle's death and funeral announcement in June 2018, leaving the board's chief executive, Executive Mutua, exposed to scrutiny.
