President William Ruto is faced with a delicate in apportioning the Chief Administrative Secretary jobs.
Going by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s numbers, Ruto has limited room as he has to pick at least 25 from the list of 224.
The President thus has to strike a balance between apportioning the jobs to every region and rewarding his cronies, who backed his election in August last year.
PSC has scheduled interviews with the shortlisted candidates beginning March 1 and is expected to draw a final list for the President’s consideration.
Eight former governors Evans Kidero (Nairobi), John Mruttu (Taita Taveta), Samuel Tunai (Narok), James Ongwae (Kisii), Patrick Khaemba (Trans Nzoia), Samuel Ragwa (Tharaka Nithi), Hussein Dado (Tana River) and Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu) have been shortlisted.
The list also has a number of former lawmakers who were central to the Kenya Kwanza campaign and a number of professionals who supported UDA.
Among former MPs are Caleb Kositany, a staunch Ruto ally and former Jubilee Party vice secretary general, Millicent Omanga (nominated, Jubilee), Joseph Limo (Kipkelion West), Cate Waruguru (Laikipia Woman Rep), and Cleophas Malala (Kakamega, Senator).
Other former on the shortlist who stood by Ruto include Lungalunga’s Khatib Mwashetani, former ODM nominated MP Wilson Sossion, Anuar Loitiptip (Lamu Senator), Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Joyce Emanikor (Turkana Woman MP), John Lodepe (Turkana Central), Lilian Tomitom (West Pokot), Lemein ole Korei (Narok South), and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati).
Notable names on the list are Purity Ngirici, Isaac Mwaura, journalist Lindah Oguttu, Mwanaisha Chidzuga, bishop Margaret Wanjiru, Gideon Keter, Boniface Musambi, McDonald Mariga, and Charles Njagua.
Key Ruto allies such as Dennis Itumbi are viewed as having an upper hand, and is said to be headed to the ICT ministry to deputise CS Eliud Owalo.
Fred Outa is also touted as a possible pick from Nyanza to the detriment of the likes of Kidero and others from the region who have defied the Raila Odinga wave to back Ruto.
Also expected to have an upper hand is Kositany, having suffered the state crackdown that was mounted by the Uhuru regime, as well as Sossion who missed out on CS and PS slots.
In Western, observers opine that Malala may make the cut.
In the Rift Valley, Ngunjiri is seen as a possible pick after vacating his petition against Jubilee’s Irene Njoki, who has since joined the Ruto camp.
Mixed reactions have greeted the list, with political observers dismissing it as yet another opportunity to recycle leaders who have been in public service for years.
The PSC shortlisting of eight former governors has drawn the biggest debate, with citizens questioning what more the former county chiefs stand to offer.
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro said it was ‘sad to see ex-governors lining up for the CAS position’.
“What are they looking for? What didn’t they offer in their position as county heads that they want to offer the country?” he asked.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie aka KJ told Citizen TV the CAS position should be preserved for people who are to be mentored as future leaders and not for former governors because it was designed to be a place for leadership training or an internship".
There are also concerns some of the shortlisted candidates do not have degrees, which is among the requirements PSC spelt in the call for public participation.
Political analyst Martin Andati said the list ‘looks premeditated’, adding that questions abound on how some are qualified.
He observed that there are those who “will obviously make it to the final list” regardless of the competition.
On whether Ruto would have a headache in settling on the choices, Andati said the President will manage to pick the few required.
“He will just put the politicians, reward some of them and wait to see what to do with the others,” Andati said.
“There is nothing new. It is not inspiring. There is a lot of recycling. We have the usual politicians.”
Andati stated further, “He will pick the politicians and those who helped him or those who sacrificed their ambitions.”
From Kiarie's sentiment, it is believed Ruto may reward the youth as well as regions that are believed to lack representation in his government.
During the vetting of principal secretaries, LSK went to court protesting the lack of regional balance in the list of 51.
