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{
"id": 19644,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/19644/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Chachu",
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"legal_name": "Francis Chachu Ganya",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee held meetings with the following members to get facts on the matter:- The Minister for Industrialization; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization; the National Standards Council; the Chief Executive; KPMG and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Committee on Equal Opportunities, I have the honour and pleasure, on behalf of my Chairman, to present the Committee’s Report and recommendations on the appointment of the Managing Director, KEBS, for consideration and adoption by the House. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, KEBS was established in July, 1974, through an Act of Parliament - Chapter 496 of the Standards Act. It is an Act of Parliament to promote the standardization of the specification of commodities and to provide for standardization of commodities and codes of practice to establish the KEBS to define functions and provide for its management and control, and for matters incidental and connected with the foregoing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Section 50(1) establishes the National Standards Council. Part II of the Act states that the Council shall, subject to the provision of sub-section 3, consist of the following members:- (i) A chairman, appointed by the Minister, (ii) a Secretary who shall be the Director of KEBS, (iii) not more than seven members appointed by the Minister, who shall be public officers; and, (iv) finally, not more than eight persons appointed by the Minister, who shall possess knowledge of industrial and commercial standards, or other matter likely to be of assistance to the bureau. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Section 7 provides that the Council shall have the powers to advise and obtain advice from the Minister in regard to any matter within its purview under this Act. Again, it is to formulate matters of policy for the purpose of providing general or specific guidance to the institute for the better performance of its functions under this Act. Finally, it is to do all things necessary for the better carrying out of the provisions and purpose of this Act except where otherwise provided. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me now turn to the recruitment process for the Managing Director, KEBS. The position of the Managing Director fell vacant when the Managing Director was removed from office due to inappropriate conduct in accordance with the mandate conferred to the National Standards Council. On 21st December, 2009, the Council initiated a recruitment process and agreed to engage an external human resource firm to help with the exercise. Through a competitive process, KPMG was awarded the contract at a cost of Kshs1.5 million with a downpayment of 40 per cent. KPMG was mandated to carry out the shortlisting of 14 candidates and later provide the Council with 6 names. Instead, the KPMG submitted four names and two for comparative purposes which was questioned by the Board. That raised disagreements, prompting the Board to demand the full list and details of all the applicants. KPMG declined to give the list and, hence, that led to a stalemate, resulting to the non-payment of the 60 per cent which was the balance from the downpayment."
}