Kenya Revenue Authority has shortlisted five candidates out of 30 applicants, including two women to replace John Njiraini as the Commissioner-General.
According to the notice published Tuesday in local dailies by KRA, Julius Waita Mwatu, Richard Boro Ndung’u, Andrew Kazora Okello, James Githii Mburu and Duncan Otieno Onduru are the front-runners for the commissioner-general post.
But as usual, Kenyans have already speculated who the winner will be.
James Githii Mburu!
Just to let you know
Your guess is good as mine the rest is a formality to blind you
Tribal Kenya pic.twitter.com/Pvf8tUFs2w— Mandela Onchwati (@mandelaonchwati) May 28, 2019
Mburu is currently the KRA Intelligence and Strategic Operations Commissioner.
Many believe that President Uhuru Kenyatta will appoint him based on his intelligence background.
Uhuru has been seen to entrust key jobs to former military and intelligence as he shapes his legacy of war on corruption.
The President, it appears, believes the military discipline and the knowledge and insight of intelligence officers could help him deliver.
Here is why Kenyans believe Mburu has a headstart:
The position is for the Kikuyu number 4!
— Eng. John Oranja (@john_oranja) May 28, 2019
That Guy called MBURU is the main guy there , just wait and see , others just blinding the public ,
— Daniel (@danielmanthi00) May 28, 2019
The KRA job belongs to that Mburu fella, he was brought from military intelligence to take over KRA. He has been seating in an empty office reading newspapers and just waiting his turn https://t.co/DPRKMX1MyK
— Abu Farhan (@M4bdi) May 28, 2019
Am sure all the qualified people wamechujwa tiyari to pave way. This is just a formality. 👆
— MAULIDI BARASA (@maulbars) May 29, 2019
Heh… I see you guys are totally on top of this
“James Githii Mburu, the Commissioner for Intelligence and Strategic Operations, widely viewed as a potential appointee to the top job in KRA, led the four-month investigations. “@mandelaonchwati https://t.co/03MBWIp3rK
— Sura Mbaya (@surambaya) May 28, 2019
After failing a job interview, my mum used to tell me “Your role is only to escort others…when will you ever be escorted?” 😅😅😅
— Toby (@Toby_Pat) May 28, 2019
The latest is the appointments of Twalib Mbarak and Inspector General Hilary Mutyambai to head the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Police Service respectively.
Uhuru appointed top intelligence officer Noordin Haji as the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He was serving as Deputy Director of Counter Organised Crime at the National Intelligence Service.
Haji replaced Keriako Tobiko, who was appointed Environment CS. Haji’s appointment breathed a new lease of life into the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A number of high-profile personalities have been taken to court for various offences.
In December 2014, Uhuru appointed Joseph Boinnet as Inspector General of Police. Previously, Boinnet had served as an Assistant Intelligence Principal Officer.
In July last year, Uhuru appointed NIS director of counter-terrorism Alexander Muteshi as the head of immigration.
The department is critical as it deals with issuance of passports and controls the entry of foreigners into the country.
Muteshi replaced Gordon Kihalangwa, an ex-senior military officer who was appointed as Principal Secretary at the department of Immigration.
Last year November, Uhuru said he tasked Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe to chair the Blue Economy Committee as he could not entrust the position to his Cabinet secretaries.