President William Ruto is under fire for nominating Permanent Secretaries who do not have a job description.
Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma accused the president for rewarding loyalists with positions that do not have matching duties and responsibilities.
“Several nominated permanent secretaries have nothing to do but take-home salaries and benefits,” the Azimio affiliated parliamentarian castigated Ruto.
The legislator mused that some permanent secretaries where picked for positions that contravened constitutional structure.
“What will principal secretary for parliamentary affairs do in the face of separation of power,” the MP wondered.
The MP also lamented that two ethnic groups dominated the list of nominees making the appointments lack national outlook.
Kaluma’s outburst came ahead of the hearing and determination of a petition seeking to stop the vetting of PS nominees.
Labour Court Judge Nzioki wa Makau stopped vetting of PS’s pending determination of petition filed by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) on November 15.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court will determine the case on November 21, 2022, a verdict that could throw the process in disarray.
In the petition, LSK raised similar concerns as Kaluuma, arguing that the list lacked gender, tribal and regional balance.
In the 51-member list, William Ruto nominated only 12 women disregarding the two third gender rule envisioned by Kenyan Constitution (2010).
The nominees also slightly exceeded the number of state departments created under the 21 ministries. Currently, there are 48 state departments.
PS play a key role in the running of ministries.
Besides the case challenging the nomination of PSs, Ruto also has a court battle, challenging the appointment of Cabinet Administrative Secretaries.
