The shortlisting of the head of corporate communications of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Browne Kutswa, for the principal secretaries has elicited mixed reactions.
Browne Kutswa was one of the 477 candidates on the shortlist first publicised by the Public Service Commission (PSC). He was also named in the revised list that had 585 candidates.
A section of Kenyans claimed that PSC should have barred its employees from applying, citing a conflict of interest.
However, others described him as smart, having applied and been shortlisted for an interview.
“Conflict of interest occurs when an individual stands a chance to personally benefit from their decisions or actions made in their official capacity. Let Browne Kutswa explain how this is not a conflict of interest!” a tweep stated.
“Browne Kutswa is a smart man. He is the corporate communications officer at the Public Service Commission who advertised for Jobs at PSs. This is Kenya," another added.
However, some Kenyans came to his defence, arguing that he had the right to contend for the jobs since he was not the commission's Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
"Browne Kutswa is a Kenyan. Like other applicants. Get this right, Kutswa heads corporate communications at the Commission. He is not the CEO. Again, nothing stops the CEO from wanting to become a PS," a tweep noted.
It was not yet ascertained whether the PSC official and the shortlisted candidate were the same individuals or they only shared a name.
The shortlisted candidates will be subjected to scrutiny by the PSC to establish their eligibility for the jobs.
According to a communique issued by the commission, the interviews for the shortlisted candidates are slated to take place from October 12 at the commission's headquarters in Nairobi.
The commission has also invited public members to present their views regarding the shortlisted candidates.
Avenues to channel views on the applicants include the online portal via psinterviews2022@publicservice.go or physically at the commission's headquarters before the close of business on October 11.
"Members of the public are invited to avail any credible information of interest relating to any of the shortlisted candidates to the secretary of the PSC," the commission stated in an invitation to members of the public.
