The Public Service Commission defended the shortlisting and interviewing of some individuals over the retirement age of 60 on Friday, January 31, saying the position of Principal Secretaries is different from other civil servant posts.
The interviews come amid a looming purge of President William Ruto’s PSs to create room for allies of the opposition chief, Raila Odinga. It is thought that at least 10 Principal Secretaries are on the chopping board. The week-long interviews of 109 candidates shortlisted for the positions were concluded on Friday.
Concerns over the plans to hire the Principal Secretaries, some of whom are over 60, stem from what many say is a Ruto political power play, creating loyalty and a new alliance for the 2027 re-election campaign.
Furthermore, several candidates, reportedly over 60, possess political connections and have held prominent roles in the former government.
In response to the growing unease over the hiring of PSs over 60, PSC, through its Public Communication Director, Browne Kutswa, yesterday explained that the Principal Secretaries are hired on contractual terms and not on a permanent or pensionable basis. Thus, their age is not a factor.
“Regarding the age factor, the 60-year retirement rule applies to public officers appointed on permanent and pensionable terms of service. It does not affect state officers since they are engaged on contractual terms that are not subject to the retirement age limit,” Kutswa said.
He added, “Principal Secretaries are state officers by virtue of holding an office that the Constitution under Article 260 categorises as a state office.”
President Ruto last year directed that the government not extend any tenures of public officers over 60 years as part of the cost-cutting measures following a public outcry over proposed tax increases.
"There will be no extension of tenures of public servants who are 60 and above," Ruto directed on July 5, 2024. He mandated that all public servants who have reached the retirement age of 60 proceed to retirement without any extensions.
This decision aligns with the Public Service Commission's Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, 2016, which sets the mandatory retirement age for civil servants at 60 years.
Persons with disabilities are allowed an extra five years, retiring at 65.
Among the contenders for the positions are former Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu and former Members of Parliament Wilson Sossion, Abdullahi Diriye, Fatuma Ibrahim Ali, Andrew Toboso, and Ahmed Ibrahim.
The interview list also features notable figures such as ex-Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Secretary General Fredrick Ouma Oluga, former Chief Administrative Secretary David Osiany, former Independent Police Oversight Authority board chair Anne Makori, ex-Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Dr. Macharia Irungu, former KBC Managing Director Dr. Naim Bilal, and ODM blogger Gabriel Oguda.
A total of 2,517 individuals applied for the positions, according to PSC.
