ICT CS Owalo says yet to receive official notice on Chiloba's suspension as CA Director General

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo says he is yet to receive official communication on the suspension of Ezra Chiloba as Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

Speaking in Mombasa, Owalo expressed his surprise at the suspension and clarified the absence of formal communication regarding the matter. 

The CS however noted that governmental procedures on handling of such matters, stating, "It has not come to my desk. When it comes to my desk, I will deal with it. Let's cross the bridge when we get there. Let us deal with it when it gets to my desk."

"There are procedures in government. Governance of authorities is handled within its authorities; oversight of institutions is done at the level of its governance," he added.

Owalo however reiterated that matters concerning governance of authorities are managed internally within the respective parastatals. 

Chiloba’s surprise suspension was announced on Monday night with the Communications Authority of Kenya board with details later emerging that he was sent home over alleged abuse of morgage scheme.

The board, which held its meeting Monday, suspended Chiloba for among others reasons conflict of interest where he applied for and self-approved a mortgage loan to facilitate the purchase of property without subjecting the transaction details to interrogation and approval by a higher authority.

The 7-acre property purchased at Ksh.25 million went against the one-acre limit approved for the scheme and that further the Ksh.25 million loan was disbursed to the seller, Kitale Hilmost Limited which was actually a company where Chiloba was the sole shareholder and the sole director.

The former IEBC Chief Executive Officer was also accused of clearing exiting staff without reviewing their debt obligations as it emerged that over Ksh.28 million was owed by former staff in mortgages that were now in default further attracting over a million shillings interest.