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Former governors Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) and Samuel Ragwa (Tharaka Nithi) are the latest politicians to be appointed to senior roles in State Corporations.

President William Ruto, in a gazette notice dated April 19, appointed Murungi to be the chairperson of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya Board of Directors for a period of three years.

The Head of State also appointed Ragwa to head the National Cereals and Produce Board for the same period.

Murungi lost his seat to Kawira Mwangaza in last year’s general election.

After the poll defeat, the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) party leader shifted allegiance from opposition leader Raila Odinga to President Ruto and pledged to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“Received the leadership of DEP at the Karen Office, Nairobi, led by former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi,” Ruto tweeted in September last year moments after receiving the DEP party delegation to Kenya Kwanza.

“We welcome the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) to Kenya Kwanza. Their resolve to work with us is an indication that leaders agree that the interests of Kenyans override our personal or party interests.”

The appointment also comes days after the former Energy minister and two ex-principal secretaries Patrick Nyoike and Joseph Njoroge were linked to the high power prices in the country.

The Senate Energy Committee investigating the high cost of electricity in the country on Monday questioned how the former powerful Ministry of Energy officials came to own a company listed as one of the shareholders of Gulf Power.

Gulf Power, alongside other Independent Power Producers (IPPs), is accused of charging exorbitant electricity costs, a move that is responsible for the high cost of living.

The committee chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga was shocked that Gulf Power has foreign directors and shareholders from overseas, including Mauritius nationals.

However, Gulf Power General Manager Norman Wanderi failed to disclose the beneficial owners of the overseas companies listed as shareholders of the firm.

“I have listened and I would say that you have given us half-baked information. I feel like it is a deliberate measure, especially to the fact that Gulf Power is one of those companies that are owned by who and who in this country,” Wamatinga said.

The Nyeri lawmaker dropped the names of Kiraitu Murungi and former PSs Njoroge and Nyoike.

Before his appointment as the Energy PS, Njoroge was the Managing Director of Kenya Power which entered into a contract with Gulf Power to sell power to KPLC.

Crucial information

“Could you be aware that former PS Nyoike owns part of it. Former PS Njoroge owns part of it and former CS Kiraitu owns part of it? Could you be in a position to know?” Wamatinga posed.

However, Wanderi maintained that the allegations were false but could not provide identities of the owners.

“I do not think that information is factual. I believe that that information is not current,” he insisted.

Senators criticised Wanderi for concealing the crucial information, accusing him of being economical with the truth.