PCs, chiefs retained in new devolved set-up

A new provincial administration structure has been put in place following the judgment that county commissioners are in office legally.

The Public Service Commission has created 47 posts for county commissioners and re-designated all the other cadres who fall under them.

A letter to Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, signed by PSC Secretary Alice Otwala and dated July 19, says: “The national administration will be motivated and set to implement the national government agenda.” It further says the administrators will be ranked from job group J to T.

“Locations and sub-locations are retained as the lowest service delivery units headed by chiefs and assistant chiefs who have joined the ranks of the administration office in accordance to the law,” adds the letter copied to the head, Directorate of Public Service Management, Ministry of Devolution and Planning.

Provincial commissioners now have a new title and will be retained in the new devolved government structure. They will be known as regional representatives and each will be responsible for the coordination of national government activities in a cluster of counties.

Chiefs and their assistants will retain their roles as the rest of the provincial administration system is gradually restructured and aligned to the Constitution.

When contacted, Mr Iringo told the Nation the law was clear and they would ensure the redeployment of the administrators to represent the national government in the regions and counties.

“We need a smooth takeoff. The PCs will be known as regional representatives under the new dispensation. They will be in charge of a cluster of counties,” Mr Iringo said.

The letter said the grading structure was tentative pending the completion of the exercise that starts immediately. “Only the chiefs and assistant chiefs will retain their current titles and job description; the rest will change,” he said.