The National Assembly has approved the appointment of five individuals nominated to serve as the Chairperson and Members of the Public Benefit Organizations Dispute Tribunal (PBODT).
This follows the tabling of a report on the Vetting of the nominees by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC), chaired by Tharaka MP, Hon. George Murugara, during a sitting held on Tuesday, 17th June 2025.
The five appointees are, Ms. Eunice Adoyo Otieno Arwa (Chairperson), Ms. Christabel Mideva Eboso, Ms. Elizabeth Mbithe Mulwa, Dr. Leonard Kinyulusi and Mr. Mohamed Sheikh Noor
The approval process was conducted in line with Section 50 of the Public Benefit Organizations Act, 2013, and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7F.
The PBODT is established under the Public Benefit Organizations Act, 2013, which came into effect on 14th May 2024. The Act provides a legal framework for the registration and regulation of Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs) in Kenya, replacing the previous NGO Act. Organizations registered under the old framework have until 13th May 2025 to transition to the new regime.
The Tribunal is mandated to handle disputes arising within Kenya’s civil society and non-profit sectors. The approved nominees bring a wealth of professional and academic experience in fields such as public administration, finance, and organizational management. The appointments also reflect diversity in age, gender, and expertise, with deliberate efforts being made to ensure that the three women and two men had youthful representation.
During debate on the report, Hon. Murugara emphasized the need for broader reforms in the tribunal vetting process, noting that the PBODT remains the only tribunal in Kenya requiring parliamentary approval.
“Seeing that this is the only tribunal requiring vetting, I believe it is high time we extend this requirement to all tribunals, to create parity and ensure merit-based appointments,” he said.
He further revealed that JLAC would soon table a Tribunals Bill aimed at harmonizing the operations and governance of tribunals across the country.
Kibwezi West MP and JLAC Vice Chairperson, Hon. Mwengi Mutuse, commended the establishment of the Tribunal, stating that it promotes self-regulation within the public benefit sector and curbs mismanagement and misuse of resources.
Nominated MP, Hon. Zuleikha Mohamed, lauded the Chief Justice for promoting gender equality through the nomination of women to key leadership positions, in line with the two-thirds gender rule.
Lawmakers across the political divide applauded the inclusion of youth, noting that their presence would inspire younger generations to actively engage in national development.
Dagoretti North MP, Hon. Beatrice Elachi, emphasized the importance of protecting purpose-driven, specialized organizations from exploitation.
“I support the appointment of these nominees because it underscores the critical role of resolving disputes in specialized sectors that often go unchecked and are vulnerable to abuse,” she stated.
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