Former Communications Authority Director-General Ezra Chiloba was cornered by Members of Parliament (MPs) to explain the source of his wealth while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense for vetting.
Chiloba, who was nominated by President William Ruto to represent Kenya as Consul-General in Los Angeles, USA, revealed that his net worth stands at Ksh800 million during the vetting on April 11, 2024.
Speaking before the MPs, Chiloba said he began income-generating activities at a young age, leading to the early accumulation of wealth.
Chiloba further informed the vetting team that he has diversified his revenue streams over time with part of his income coming from his ventures including an avocado farm located in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
He also stated that returns from business investments he manages have also contributed to his net worth.
Additionally, the nominated diplomat noted that he continues to receive income from consultancy services despite having resigned from his post as the Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
Ezra Chiloba career
Chiloba rose to prominence in 2017 during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) where he played a key role in the contentious presidential elections.
Also Read: EACC Gives Update After Investigations on Ezra Chiloba’s Ksh 662M Case
However, he was dismissed in 2020 over procurement irregularities at IEBC, prompting him to withdraw from the public sphere.
Chiloba would later resurface following his appointment by former President Uhuru Kenyatta as Director-General of the Communications Authority before the 2022 General Election.
His history with controversies then struck again as he was forced to resign from the position amid accusations of mismanaging the staff mortgage scheme.
However, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) cleared him of the Ksh662 million graft case that led to his suspension prior to his vetting by the Committee.
Meanwhile, drama ensued after the nominee for the Consul-General to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) position Charles Githinji struggled to explain a basic economic term.
Charles Githinji who was nominated by President Ruto for an ambassadorial role was appearing before the same Committee for vetting.
During the vetting, Githinji left the Committee speechless after saying that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) equates to a country’s total population.
Nominee struggles during vetting
The nominee was responding to a query regarding the definition of GDP when he affirmed that it meant the current population and the escalation of the population of a country.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), GDP is the standard measure of the value added created through the production of goods and services in a country during a certain period.
As such, it also measures the income earned from that production, or the total amount spent on final goods and services (less imports).
Much to the surprise of all, the Consul General nominee went on to add, “I will go back to foreign affairs academy to learn more about this job.”
Also Read: Ex-MP Turns Down Ruto’s Job Offer, Gives Reason
Expressing his disappointment, the Committee’s chairperson Nelson Koech, stated that the Githinji was unprepared for vetting.
His response underscored the expectation that appointees of such positions should have fundamental knowledge on economics, crucial for representing the country’s commercial interests in countries attached.
Basic requirements for the role include being a degree holder and having a minimum of five years of experience in a customer-facing capacity.
Vetting concluded
The Committee concluded the approval hearings for 27 Ambassadors and High Commissioner nominees on April 11 after 7 nominees appeared before the Members of the Committee on the final day of vetting.
Members of the Committee are now expected to retreat to assess the suitability of the nominees’ before preparing a report to be tabled in the National Assembly.
