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Shake-up looms as search for PSs begins

kobia

Prof. Margaret Kobia, PSC chairperson. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has advertised principal secretaries positions, fuelling expectation of a looming shakeup of top officials with the formation of a new government.

The PSC notice has not specified departments that require principal secretaries (PSs), but has asked interested candidates to apply by September 1.

“The idea is to have a pool from which we will recommend to the President for appointment,” Margaret Kobia, who chairs the PSC, said.

“They are people, who have gone through the normal kind of competitiveness and merit that you can say, in this list, anybody appointed can make a good principal secretary.”

Principal secretaries are the de facto heads of administration of State departments, and the account holders who play executive roles in the ministries.

Article 155(3)(a) of the 2010 Constitution requires the Public Service Commission to recommend persons for nomination and appointment as principal secretaries by the President.

“Pursuant to this constitutional provision, the Public Service Commission invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for the position of Principal Secretary,” the notice reads.

Unlike Cabinet Secretaries who are appointed by the President with the approval of the National Assembly, the Constitution prescribes a rigorous recruitment process for PSs – who must apply and be interviewed before taking office.

Prof Kobia said successful applicants will form a pool from which the commission will recommend to the president for appointment when need arises.

“Every time a new government is formed, the appointing authority uses a certain criteria to appoint the people to hold such offices. One of the criteria is to make sure they are competent and qualified. For PSs, it is the commission that can recommend from that pool,” she said.

While the Constitution limits the size of the Cabinet at 25, including the president, his deputy and the attorney–general, there is no constitutional cap on PSs.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose re-election at the August 8 polls is facing legal challenge in the Supreme Court, on November 24, 2015 increased the number of PSs to 41 from the initial 26 he picked upon taking reins of power in 2013.

READ: Uhuru cuts principal secretaries’ powers

Mr Kenyatta also increased the number of CSs to 20 from 19, expanding the size of the Cabinet to 23, including himself, his deputy William Ruto, and AG Githu Muigai.

The commission is encouraging top civil servants in Job Group S, who presently earn a gross monthly salary of Sh269,200, to apply for the jobs.
Successful candidates will earn a gross pay of Sh755,199, excluding other benefits, if appointed PSs as per the new pay structure that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission announced on July 10.

Successful applicants will undergo a rigorous interview process to determine their suitability to hold public office under Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity.

Prof Kobia said the Kenya Revenue Authority, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations will be involved in the interviewing process.

“Before you are put in a pool, the commission must ascertain that you are the right person. We don’t have any specific number. It will depend on the need at that particular time and what the president wants to appoint,” Prof Kobia said.

“For us we have a process of how do you recommend. People must have expressed they need the job.”