KENYA: Consumer lobby in court to stop principal secretaries appointment

By Paul OGEMBA.

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has moved to court to stop the appointment of principal secretaries.

The federation, through its officials, Stephen Mutoro, Ephraim Kanake and Henry Ochieng argue that the Public Service Commission (PSC) conducted the interviews in clear violation of the Constitution by ignoring public participation in the process.

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

The consumer lobby claimed that the PSC decision to conduct the interviews in camera and denying the public information on which 66 names were forwarded to the president has denied members of the public opportunity to participate in the recruitment exercise.

According to the federation, several current permanent secretaries who expressed interest to continue in office were denied the chance without reasonable ground, making them suffer humiliation, loss of self-esteem and imputed negatively on their integrity.

Already, the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission has questioned the process of selecting Principal Secretary candidates.

EACC vice chairman Irene Keino said Thursday the commission had received numerous complaints that the process of shortlisting was not above board.

"Allegations were received by the EACC that qualified and competent applicants were not shortlisted for unknown reasons. In short, the process appeared not to be free and fair,” said Ms Keino during a news conference at EACC's offices in Nairobi.

"We conducted an investigation and the commission prepared a report which it handed to the Public Service Commission and in which applicants under investigations by the EACC were named.

"EACC is also investigating the vetting process and the findings will be made public once concluded," she said.

Ten days ago, the PSC announced it had finalised the process of interviewing 155 candidates and had shortlisted 66.

PSC chairperson Margaret Kobia said the list would be handed to President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointment.

Prof Kobia said those picked were rated top based on merit, gender balance, regional representation and special interests.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Cofek-in-court-to-stop-principal-secretaries-appointment-/-/1064/1858796/-/qb1wgmz/-/index.html