President William Ruto on Friday, March 31, disclosed the dilemma he faced before appointing 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) into office.
Ruto made the revelations during the Public Service Commission launch of the Values and Principles Compliance Report 2021-2022 in Nairobi.
The President disclosed that when he took over the reins from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, his plan to appoint the CAS was hindered by the existing structures.
"I remember when I wanted to appoint the CASs, I went to the chairman and the PSC brought to my attention that the court had a problem with how the CASs were appointed in the past," he stated.
Ruto further detailed that he sought advice from the Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman to look for a way forward.
"We had to redo the whole architecture because it was the advice of a professional public service," he added.
The President lauded the professionalism of the PSC adding that it was okay to say no when a decision was against the rule of law.
On March 16, Ruto unveiled the list of 50 CASs before appointing them without being vetted by the National Assembly.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wentangula declined to vet the nominees noting that it was not enshrined in the Constitution or any written law.
“The obligation to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution enjoins the House to refrain from assuming and discharging a role that it has not been expressly assigned by the Constitution or written law," the Speaker stated at the time.
However, on March 24, the High Court barred the appointed CASs from assuming office as well as earning any salary, remuneration, or any other benefits until a pending case was concluded.
The case in question was filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Katiba Institute which argued that Ruto can not constitutionally create an office in the public service without recommendations from the PSC.
