Little-known high school principal from Emurua Dikirr in Narok is among 585 applicants shortlisted by the Public Service Commission for the position of Principal Secretary.
Leonard Cheruiyot Chepkwony is the principal of Ilkerin Secondary School.
Chepkwony, 50, is the first member of the Kipsigis community in Narok county from the larger Transmara region to be shortlisted for the senior position.
If appointed, he will be the second person from the county to hold such a position after Devolution PS Julius Korir.
Following his shortlisting, residents of Emurua Dikirr constituency expressed their joy.
“Congratulations Leonard Chepkwony for being the first native from Emurua Dikirr to be shortlisted for the Principal Secretary job. Appearing on the shortlist alone means a lot to us, the great people of Narok at large. We pray for you to achieve your dreams,” MP Johana Ng’eno posted on Facebook.
Chepkwony was born on August 20, 1972, in Kapsasian village.
He attended Kabolecho Primary School from 1979 and then proceeded to Kilgoris Secondary School in 1987 for O Levels.
In 1992, he joined Kenyatta University for Bachelors of Education Arts and graduated in 1996. Thereafter he enrolled for a Masters of Arts degree in the same institution and graduated in 2011.
He is currently a PhD student.
Before becoming a principal, Chepkwony taught in many schools in the South Rift region and was the deputy principal at Kabolecho and Olmelil secondary schools.
Activist Kibet Langat said the selection of Chepkwony shows the Kenya Kwanza administration has confidence in everyone.
“Since Independence, no government has ever appreciated us like this new regime headed by Ruto,” he said.
Langat said if Chepkwony succeeds in becoming a PS, the community will support the head of state more to ensure he delivers on his promise to Kenyans.
“Now that the electioneering period is over and it is now time to work, I urge all the people despite their political affiliations to support our President and the government to improve the lives of millions of Kenyans,” he said.
The activists said the President is a symbol of national unity and will only succeed if he has the backing of all the leaders and the people.
Interviews to fill the advertised positions for PS jobs will be held between October 12 and 22.
The Public Service Commission shortlisted 585 applicants out of 9,154 that applied for the positions.
The PSC had on Thursday shortlisted 477 applicants but revised it on Friday by adding others to bring the total to 585.
The commission has invited members of the public to send their views on the suitability of the shortlisted candidates by email before the date of interview.
Once the selection interviews are completed, they will forward the list of successful candidates to the President for consideration for appointment as Principal Secretaries in accordance with the law.
