Ex-KRA boss Njiraini, Murugi shortlisted to head National Land Commission

Former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General John Njiraini is among the 11 candidates shortlisted for the chairperson of the National Land Commission.

Njiraini, who had sat at the helm of  KRA since March 2012, left last month after his term expired.

Former Nyeri MP Esther Murugi has also been listed as a contender for the NLC Board top seat that fell vacant when Mohammed Swazuri’s tenure ended.

Swazuri’s tenure was tainted with controversies and culminated in several arrests and subsequent arraignment.

On Tuesday, an advertisement in the local daily also named other candidates shortlisted for NLC Board Chairperson as Mwenda Makathimo (Executive Director of the Land Development & Governance Institute); prominent lawyer Gershom Otachi; Naomi Wagereka (former Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Chairperson); Robert Kilimo, Patrick Adolowa, Humphrey Njuguna, Paul Wambua, Tiyah Ali (Isiolo County MP) and Gershom Bw’Omanwa.

According to the National Land Commission, the above candidates were shortlisted from 117 applications which the commission received.

Notable personalities who were shortlisted for membership positions include Francis Nderitu (Ndaragwa MP), Prof Gitile Naituli and Adan Abdi Mohamed (former National Cohesion and Integration Committee (NCIC) commissioners), Boniface Otsyula (Bumula MP), Alex Muthengi (former Tharaka MP) and Omingo Magara (former South Mugirango MP).

The candidates are required to appear before an interview panel starting 7:30a.m on Monday, July 29.

Upon interviews, two qualified applicants for the position of chairperson will be shortlisted and 16 for members, then forwarded to the President.

The President is then expected to nominate the chairperson and eight members within 14 days, then forward to the National Assembly for vetting within 21 days.

Should Parliament approve the names within seven days, they will be again forwarded to the President, who will then appoint them through a Gazette notice.