President William Ruto has appointed Engineer Michael Thoyah Kingi a former Magarini MP and brother to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), a move that has drawn public attention because of the family ties involved.
The appointment was formally announced in the November 14 Gazette notice, confirming that Kingi will serve a six-year term.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 230 (2) (b) (ii) of the Constitution..I appoint Michael Thoyah Kingi (Eng) to be a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for a period of six (6) years,” the notice reads.
Kingi’s nomination earlier this year sparked debate, especially during his vetting before the National Assembly Labour Committee on October 21. Lawmakers pressed him on whether his political past or his relationship with the Senate Speaker could affect his independence while serving at the powerful pay-setting body.
Kingi pushed back on those concerns, telling MPs that he quit active politics after losing his parliamentary seat in 2022. He said he is no longer a member of any political party and has no intention of contesting in the upcoming Magarini by-election, which was triggered after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Harrison Garama Kombe.
At one point, Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga questioned claims that Kingi’s name appeared on the November 27 by-election ballot. Kingi dismissed the allegation, saying nomination papers had already closed and his name was not among them.
“My name is not on the ballot… In fact, I do not belong to any political party, so no worries at all,” he told the committee.
He added that he left his former party soon after losing his seat in 2022 and chose to step away from politics entirely.
With his appointment now confirmed, Kingi joins SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony and commissioners Maj-Gen (Rtd) Martin Kizito Ong’onyi, Mohamed Aden Abdi, Jane Gatakaa Njage, Dr. Gilda Odera, Dr. Geoffrey Apollo Omondi and Leonid Ashindu, who were sworn in on January 20.
