Lobby moves to court over PS nominees

A lobby group has moved to court to stop the appointment of principal secretaries.

The Consumers Federation of Kenya argues that the Public Service Commission violated the Constitution when it conducted the interviews without public participation.

“The PSC decision to secretly recommend to the President names of persons for principal secretaries was unconstitutional, unjustified, malicious, unilateral and was tantamount to discrimination and against the rules of natural justice,” Cofek said.

Officials Stephen Mutoro, Ephraim Kanake and Henry Ochieng said PSC’s decision to conduct interviews in camera and refusing to disclose information on the 66 names had denied the public a chance to participate.

Suffer humiliation

According to the federation, current permanent secretaries who had expressed interest in the jobs were denied the chance without reasonable grounds, making them suffer humiliation.

“Owing to a flawed recruitment mired in suspicion, tainted and discredited by among others the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, it is important that further action on the said secret list be stopped,” the federation said.

Through lawyer Henry Kurauka, the federation accused the PSC of failing to publish a separate list of applicants for the first advertisement, adding that two “curious” re-advertisements on diverse dates shrouded the credibility of the recruitment.

Although the PSC did not disclose the names, it said the selection was based on merit, gender balance, regional representation and special interests. However, the anti-graft agency recommended that 15 nominees be locked out for failing the integrity test. The commission is also investigating claims of impropriety during shortlisting.