Tough vetting session for CBK board nominee as past comes to fore
Despite her qualifications, her SRC tenure became the focal point of the session, leading to sharp criticism from several lawmakers.
Sophie Moturi, a nominee for the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) board, faced tough scrutiny during her vetting before a joint parliamentary committee.
As a seasoned professional in banking and finance with over 30 years of experience, Moturi was questioned about her past role as a commissioner in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Despite her qualifications, her SRC tenure became the focal point of the session, leading to sharp criticism from several lawmakers.
During the vetting on Thursday, Moturi proudly reflected on her work at SRC, noting that the commission had carried out a job evaluation for all civil service cadres, including Members of Parliament (MPs).
However, this statement was met with resistance. Kitui Rural MP David Mboni was particularly critical, accusing the SRC of failing in its duties.
"You failed as Salaries and Remunerations Commission. Apart from harassing MPs, SRC is not known for anything better," Mboni remarked.
The criticisms didn’t stop there.
Session chair and Ainamoi MP, Benjamin Lagat, also expressed disappointment, arguing that the SRC had done little beyond reducing the salaries of ward representatives.
Turkana South MP John Ariko further questioned the criteria used by SRC in job evaluations, particularly concerning MPs' responsibilities as outlined in Article 95 of the Constitution.
Moturi, however, defended her role, emphasizing that the SRC had succeeded in reducing the country's wage bill from 51.5% to 39% during her tenure.
"We did our work as a commission, not as individuals. We carried out job evaluation, which was a thorough process, a time-consuming and expensive exercise," Moturi explained.
In addition to her SRC defense, Moturi addressed questions about the current state of the economy.
As a nominee for CBK, she proposed that financial and fiscal policies must work together to stabilize the economy.
She argued that monetary policies alone would not suffice to address economic challenges, and promised to advocate for integrated financial strategies, particularly through technology, if approved for the CBK board.
"Financial policies should be taken on board. It is possible to achieve that through technology and relevant amendments brought before Parliament for approval," she said