Ruto hands Ezra Chiloba envoy role despite graft storm at Communications Authority
Mr Ezra Chiloba, the immediate former Director General at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) and a former chief executive officer at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, has been awarded a senior government job by President William Ruto.
In a statement from State House on March 8, 2024, Mr Chiloba was among a list of new nominations and appointments of Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
The names are set to be forwarded to Parliament in fulfillment of the legal requirements.
Mr Chiloba was nominated for the position of Consul-General at the Los Angeles post in California, United States of America.
A Consul-General is a diplomat who heads a consulate and is tasked with representing their country’s interests where they are posted.
They are to identify and facilitate and foster the potential corporation and partnerships of foreigners with Kenya, foster the affairs of their citizens in the foreign country as well as oversee functions such as passport issuing and renewals among other services.
Chiloba’s nomination comes about four months after he was forced to leave the Communications Authority over corruption claims.
He was accused of abuse of office and misuse of funds in the Authority’s mortgage scheme whereby he signed and approved the transfer of Sh 25 million to his own company as a mortgage payment. He took the money and bought property from his father. He was also accused of mismanaging the Sh 662 million staff housing scheme.
From the IEBC, he was forced to leave in 2018 following corruption allegations. An internal audit at the IEBC found major procurement discrepancies during the 2017 general elections and repeat presidential election. Chiloba was accused of gross misconduct, breach and violations of the Commission’s Human Resource and Administration policies.
Should Chiloba pass Parliament vetting, he will replace Mr Thomas Kwaka, popularly known as Big Ted who was appointed by former president Uhuru Kenyatta just before he exited office in 2022. During the regime of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Big Ted worked as the Director of Brand Strategy and Events at the State House.
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