MPs clear Isaboke for PS role, recommend reassignment over conflict of interest

The National Assembly has approved the nomination of Stephen Isaboke as Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications but recommended that he be reassigned to a different state department due to potential conflict of interest stemming from his shareholding in GOtv Kenya.

Isaboke, who owns a 30 percent stake in the company which is a subsidiary of MultiChoice, came under intense scrutiny during his vetting by the National Assembly’s Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.

MPs pressed him to explain how he acquired the shares for Ksh5.2 million and whether his interest would compromise his role in overseeing the sector.

The committee, chaired by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, heard that Isaboke has served as a director at GOtv since 2011. He told MPs that he bought the shares after the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) opted out of a deal for a joint venture with Multichoice.

Isaboke was also questioned about his links to Inka FM, a radio station owned by his nephew.

He acknowledged helping with the station’s setup but denied having any involvement in its operations.

“The station is fully owned and run by my nephew. I am not part of its day-to-day running,” he told the committee.