Dr. Laxmana Peter Kiptoo Hastily Installed as PBORA Director General, Raising Questions

In a surprising turn of events, Dr. Laxmana Peter Kiptoo, the second-placed candidate in the recruitment process for the Director General of the Public Benefits Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBORA), has been appointed to the position.

Dr. Kiptoo was hastily directed to report to the PBORA offices on Friday, February 7, 2025, sparking questions about the transparency and fairness of the selection process.

Dr. Kiptoo, who scored 75% in the interviews conducted on December 5, 2024, was ranked behind Linus Muli from Makueni, who emerged as the top candidate with a higher score.

The decision has raised eyebrows, particularly because the appointment process had stalled for months.

The third candidate, Ibrahim Mohamud from Garissa, scored 72%.

Murkomen’s hand in appointment suspected

The appointment of Dr. Kiptoo, who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet County—the same county as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen—has raised eyebrows among stakeholders and observers.

PBORA, the successor to the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Board, is tasked with regulating public benefit organizations in Kenya. The recruitment process for its CEO has been marred by delays and controversy.

Initially, the Mwambu Mabonga-led board submitted its recommendations to then Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki.

However, before Kindiki could make the appointment, he transitioned to the role of Deputy President, leaving the decision pending.

The matter then fell to CS Murkomen, who appears to have overlooked the top candidate, Linus Muli, in favor of Dr. Kiptoo.

This decision has sparked speculation about potential political interference or favoritism in the appointment process.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

Kenya Insights had previously reported on the delayed appointment, but the story seemingly went unnoticed by the Office of the President.

The situation took a dramatic turn when the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) made inquiries about the appointment on Thursday, February 6.

Just a day later, Dr. Kiptoo was instructed to report to the PBORA offices early on Friday, February 7, in what many are calling a rushed and opaque process.

Stakeholders, including civil society organizations and transparency advocates, have expressed concerns over the bypassing of the top candidate.

“The recruitment process should be based on merit and transparency. Overlooking the best candidate undermines public trust in our institutions,” said a representative from COFEK.

As of now, it remains unclear why Linus Muli, the highest-scoring candidate, was overlooked.

Questions are also being raised about the role of CS Murkomen in the decision-making process and whether political considerations influenced the final appointment.

The PBORA plays a critical role in overseeing public benefit organizations, and the credibility of its leadership is paramount.

The controversial appointment of Dr. Kiptoo has cast a shadow over the authority’s commitment to good governance and merit-based recruitment.