The Public Service Commission (PSC) on Saturday, March 15, released a list featuring former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Margaret Wanjala and former Gatanga Member of Parliament Humphrey Kimani as possible people to become the new chairperson of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
The two prominent people were part of a nine-person shortlist to replace the exiting Eliud Kinuthia as the chair of NPSC and his commissioners, who have reached the culmination of their six-year term.
The list also included former Busia County Deputy Governor Kizito Wangalwa, former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Devolution State Department of ASALs Micah Pkopus, and former Finance Director of the Judiciary Susan Oyatsi.
Others included Doreen Nkatha Muthaura, who was once on the shortlist to become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), John Mutegi Muriungi, Komora Mabudi Jilo, and John Otieno Ondego.
In the notice revealing the list of nominees, the PSC revealed that interviews for the nominees would be conducted over two days—Monday, March 24, and Tuesday, March 25.
The candidates were shortlisted by a selection panel that was sworn into office on February 17 and tasked with coming up with a suitable replacement for Kinuthia. The panel consisted of Arthur Osiya (Chair), Moses Serem, Marion Mutugi, Cecillia Mutuku, Thomas Okoth, Judith Walubengo, and John Karani.
After the interviews, the panel is expected to submit a shortened list of top candidates to President William Ruto for consideration. Consequently, the President nominates one candidate for the position and submits the name to the National Assembly for approval.
Up next, the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security conducts further vetting and interviews. If satisfied, the committee recommends the nominee for approval by the full House.
Once approved by Parliament, the President officially appoints the Chairperson by gazette notice, and they are sworn into office. If rejected, the president must submit another nominee.
Qualifications to be chair of NPSC are that he/she must be a Kenyan citizen, have at least 15 years of experience in public administration, human resource management, or any other relevant field, meet Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, and be a person of high moral character and proven integrity.
As the chair of NPSC, the appointed person will be expected to carry a variety of functions spanning leadership and oversight, recruitment and appointment of police officers, handling disciplinary matters within the police service, and setting and reviewing salaries, benefits, and working conditions for police officers.
Other functions span policy development, facilitating collaboration with other agencies like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and strategic development.
At the same time, the notice by PSC revealed a list of 29 people who were set to be interviewed for ‘Members’ positions at NPSC.
