STATE firm National Oil Corporation has sent its CEO Sumayya Hassan-Athmani on compulsory leave and appointed the general manager in charge of downstream operations, MaryJane Mwangi to takeover in acting capacity.
Ms Sumayya was the only woman Muslim from the larger Kilifi county and Coast region holding a parastatal position.
Observers have pointed out that the new Cabinet Secretary in charge of Energy Hon Charles Keter is slowly and surely effecting changes in his ministry to fit Jubilee tribal arithmetic. The move to sack Athmani seem will have negative effect on the ruling Jubilee coalition since she comes from Malindi where Uhuru is fighting it out with Raila in the upcoming by election.
”Ms Hassan-Athmani’s current predicament is the result of unending intrigues in the parastatal sector by self-absorbed ethnic elites who – blinded by an exaggerated sense of entitlement to these public positions – are unable to appreciate that every qualified citizen of this country, regardless of tribe, gender or race, has a right to occupy a plum position in the public sector.” noted veteran Business editor Jaidi Kisero
Kilifi residents have condemned the sacking terming it a tribal move that continues to marginalise the Coastal community and have vowed to teach Jubilee a brief lesson in the upcoming Malindi Parliamentary by-election.
Sumayya Hassan-Athmani comes from Kilifi County where one Gideon Mung’aro comes from. Gideon is Jubilee point man in Kilifi and Coast. He has not questioned why his benefactor is replacing a very hardworking lady and who has turned around the state owned National Oil Corporation with a lady from elsewhere a MaryJane Mwangi. – An ODM supporter noted
Other than Athmani, Keter also fired Kenya Pipeline boss Flora Okoth and replaced her with general manager Joel Sang.
Okoth had been acting MD since July 2015 after the suspension of Charles Tonui.
