Kenya considers hiring PCs over counties

Kenya is considering hiring more Provincial Commissioners to take charge of various counties created under the new Constitution.

The government confirmed Thursday that it was reflecting on redeploying the current PCs to be in charge of a cluster of counties.

It will, however, be forced to appoint more administrators or promote serving ones to effectively manage the affairs of the national government in the 47 counties created under the new Constitution.

“You realise there are only eight PCs yet we have 47 counties so we may promote others to be in charge of the extra counties,” Internal Security Assistant minister Orwa Ojode said.

Mr Ojode spoke as his minister, Prof George Saitoti clarified that the government was considering re-deploying the PCs to be in charge of a cluster of counties.

“Among the proposals under consideration is to move Provincial Commissioners to be responsible for clusters of Counties,” Prof Saitoti in an advertisement in the local dailies.

Both Prof Saitoti and Mr Ojode maintained that all the current provincial administrators, from PCs to chiefs and assistant chiefs will be retained to represent the national government and coordinate its functions in their respective stations.

“The offices of DCs, DOs, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs will remain as representative and coordinators of National Government functions in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” said Prof Saitoti.

“We are just changing the titles of PCs but their jobs remain intact, the rest, including DCs, DOs and chiefs are not affected at all, their jobs are secure,” Mr Ojode added.