- They will, however, face stiff competition from other technocrats with vast experience in fiscal matters—Adan Mohamed and Kamau Thugge.
- The two hopeful bankers hope for the lucrative post to adopt the style of former governor Eric Cheruiyot Kotut.
Image: File
When interviews for the Central Bank Governor candidates are conducted next week, two former deputies will yet again feature in the hunt for the powerful job.
Edward Sambili and Haron Sirima who have both had stints at the institution have been shortlisted alongside six others.
In 2015, the duo was also among the five shortlisted to replace the then Governor Njuguna Ndung'u.
Patrick Njoroge who prepares to exit next month after concluding his two-year term emerged as the winner.
Public Service Commission (PSC) will interview the six shortlisted candidates on May 9.
The six are from a list of 24 applicants.
"Following the conclusion of the shortlisting exercise, the commission publishes the shortlisted candidates and the interview schedule,” the notice reads in part.
They will, however, face stiff competition from other technocrats with vast experience in fiscal matters—Adan Mohamed and Kamau Thugge, who are both currently serving as advisors to President William Ruto have also been shortlisted.
Adan is a banker poached from Barclays Bank in 2013 by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to serve in his Cabinet.
He was the managing director for East and West Africa.
Thugge, on the other hand, is a former Treasury Principal Secretary who also worked as a senior economic advisor in the Ministry of Finance and head of the Fiscal and Monetary Affairs department.
Others are Dorcas Muthoni Mutonyi and IMF's director of Internal audit and inspection Nancy Onyango.
The position requires a candidate to be a recognised professional with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in fields such as economics, banking, finance or law.
They are also required to have more than 10 years of senior management experience in economics, banking, finance or other relevant fields.
Sirima, is the current Director-General, the Public Debt Management office at the Treasury while Sambili is a former Planning Permanent Secretary.
The two are not new to the operations of the Bank having served before, something that might give them an upper hand.
Sambili served as a deputy governor between 2001-04 while Sirima (2011-15).
Sirima served as the assistant to Ndung’u, the current Treasury Cabinet Secretary.
Sambili, an economist, was a deputy to Nahashon Nyaga and had a short stint under Andrew Mullei's tenure before handing over to Jacinta Mwatela.
Sirima is a career Central Banker joining CBK in 1986 as a graduate trainee and rose through the ranks to be the deputy governor and a monetary policy committee vice chair.
The two hopeful bankers hope for the lucrative post to adopt the leadership style of fourth CBK governor Eric Cheruiyot Kotut.
Kotut served during former President Daniel Moi era between 1984-88.
Njoroge’s successor will be the 10th governor at the helm of CBK.
Previous CBK governors are Leon Baranski who served for one year until 1967, Duncan Ndegwa (1967-82), Philip Ndegwa (1982-88), Kotut (1988-93), Micah Cheserem (1993-01), Nahashon Nyagah (2001-03), Andrew Mullei (2003-07) and Njuguna Ndungu (2007-15).
CBK was established by an Act of Parliament of March 24, 1966, and started operations on September 14, 1966.
This followed the dissolution of the East African currency board (EACB).
The governor assumes the role of CEO and spokesperson of the bank and is responsible for its overall management.
The PSC also seeks to recruit a second deputy governor of the bank to replace Sheila M’Mbijjewe whose term is also coming to an end next month.
Susan Koech was appointed in March as a deputy governor.