President William Ruto has officially appointed Engineer Michael Thoyah Kingi, the brother of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, to serve in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The announcement was made through a notice published in the Kenya Gazette on November 14, confirming that Michael Kingi will take up the role of a commissioner.
According to the Gazette notice, the appointment was made under the powers granted to the President by Article 230 (2)(b)(ii) of the Constitution, read together with Article 250 (2)(b), and in line with the recruitment procedure outlined in the SRC Act of 2011.
President Ruto noted that Michael Kingi’s term would run for six years starting from the date the appointment takes effect.
This appointment comes after weeks of public debate and scrutiny, largely because of Michael’s close family ties to the Senate Speaker.
Many Kenyans and political observers questioned whether the relationship might influence the independence of the commission. However, the appointment proceeded after Parliament completed the vetting process.
Michael Thoyah Kingi previously served as the Member of Parliament for Magarini Constituency from 2017 to 2022.
He lost his seat during the 2022 General Election, where he contested under the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party, which was associated with his brother Amason Kingi.
Despite his political history, Michael assured lawmakers during his vetting on October 21 that he had stepped away from active politics.
During the vetting session, members of the National Assembly raised concerns about claims that his name appeared on the ballot for the upcoming Magarini by-election scheduled for November 27. Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga questioned him directly on the matter.
However, Michael dismissed the allegations, clarifying that he was not vying in the by-election and that he did not belong to any political party at the moment.
He explained that those contesting had already submitted their nomination papers and insisted he had no political intentions for now.
When asked about leaving the party he used in 2022, Michael stated that he exited the party shortly after the election because he wanted a break from politics. He emphasized that his focus was now fully on serving in the SRC if approved.
With his appointment finalized, Michael Kingi joins an existing team at the SRC led by Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony.
Other members of the commission include Maj-Gen (Rtd) Martin Kizito Ong’onyi, Mohamed Aden Abdi, Jane Gatakaa Njage, Dr. Gilda Odera, Dr. Geoffrey Apollo Omondi, and Leonid Ashindu—all of whom were sworn into office earlier on January 20.
The expanded commission is expected to continue its mandate of reviewing and setting salaries for state officers, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with the law.
Michael Kingi’s addition to the team marks a new phase for the SRC as it prepares for its next cycle of work.
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