Uasin Gishu MCAs Reject All 11 Nominees to Eldoret City Board Over Legal Citizenship and Petition Concerns
The Eldoret City Board is an important organ of the city, established under the Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2022, and is key in management and development
By Ruth Sang, Hubz Media
The Uasin Gishu County Assembly’s Committee on Housing and Urban Development has rejected all 11 nominees proposed to serve on the newly established Eldoret City Board, citing serious legal and procedural irregularities in their appointment process.
The committee report, which was tabled and debated in the County Assembly today, detailed multiple breaches of the law, including lack of documentation, questionable nomination procedures, and failure to meet statutory requirements under the Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, 2017 and the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2022.
“After thorough scrutiny of the nominees, the Committee on Housing and Urban Development declined to approve the nomination of all 11 nominees for appointment to the Eldoret City Board,” the report reads in part.
Missing Documents and Breach of Law
The Committee faulted the appointing authority — the County Governor — for failing to provide key documentation to support the nomination process. According to the report, there were no signed minutes from the nominating organizations to prove that a transparent and accountable process had been followed.
Further, the Committee noted there was no evidence of compliance with statutory obligations, and the vetting forms meant to verify each nominee’s eligibility for appointment were missing.
The report adds that the nominees were not even aware of their nomination until they were called by the office of the County Assembly Clerk to collect their notification and vetting letters.
“This process lacked transparency and violated clear provisions of the Urban Areas and Cities Act,” the Committee concluded.
Section 13(3) and (4) of the Act requires the County Governor, while appointing board members, to ensure gender balance, representation of persons with disabilities, youth, and marginalized groups, and to require nominating organizations to produce proper documentation as proof of compliance.
Kitur’s Degree Under Scrutiny
The rejection also follows mounting controversy over the academic credentials of one of the nominees, Julius Kimeli Kitur, who had been fronted as the proposed chairperson of the board.
As earlier reported by Hubz Media, Moi University wrote to the County Assembly disowning the degree certificate presented by Kitur, stating that it was not issued by the university.
“The copy of certificate submitted to your office is not authentic and was not issued by Moi University,” the university’s letter read.
Kitur, in his defence, maintained that he graduated from Moi University in 2011 with a Second Class Upper Division degree. However, the university’s confirmation raised doubts over the credibility of his credentials, further weakening his case before the vetting committee.
Entire List Dismissed
All 11 nominees, drawn from different organizations, were declared unsuitable for appointment. The Committee concluded that the appointment process violated both procedural and legal requirements, including lack of stakeholder involvement and non-compliance with statutory vetting criteria.
“The Committee’s decision is based on the need to uphold transparency, fairness, and integrity in the management of public institutions,” said a member of the vetting panel who sought anonymity.
The County Governor is now expected to restart the nomination process, ensuring compliance with the required laws. The Committee directed that future nominations must include all supporting documents — signed nomination minutes, proof of statutory compliance, and individual vetting forms — before any approvals are considered.
Until a new and lawfully constituted board is in place, the current interim team will continue handling routine operations for Eldoret City.
The rejection, which sparked a heated debate on the Assembly floor, marks a major setback for Uasin Gishu County’s efforts to operationalize Eldoret’s newly acquired city status. It also signals a tougher stance by the County Assembly on issues of integrity, inclusivity, and due process in public appointments.
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