Ruto proposes an omnibus Bill to stagger hiring of commissioners

President William Ruto receives the End of Terms Reports by Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices from Lyn Cherop Mengich the Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

President William Ruto has directed his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to consult the Attorney General and Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, to prepare an omnibus Bill that will make it possible for staggered recruitment of commissioners.

This, according to the Head of State will cure the vacuum occasioned when the term of commissioners of independent bodies expire at the same time. This will ensure delivery is not interrupted.

“I am aware that in certain commissions, like the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Commission on Administrative Justice, the terms of office for the chairperson and all the commissioners expire at the same time, leaving these organisations in undesirable state of suspense. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, for example, has not discharged its mandate effectively for two years,” he said.

Speaking when he received end-of-term reports from constitutional commission officials whose tenure of office has expired at State House Nairobi yesterday, President Ruto said there was a need to review the enabling legislative instruments in respect of various Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, to remove redundancies and anchor into law progressive legislation aimed at enhancing interdependence amid the independence of these offices.

“The framework of engagement between the National Government and Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices offers useful opportunities for enhancing the liaison between the two entities. The Government recognises the role of the caucus in coordinating constitutional commissions. I therefore pledge to support the Caucus in establishing a properly facilitated secretariat along similar lines as the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC),” he said.

At the same time, Ruto assured Kenyans that his administration will ensure a transparent recruitment of commissioners for positions due to become vacant in constitutional commissions saying the recruitment to positions of responsibility must demonstrate true fidelity to the rule of law.

The commissions and independent offices whose chairs and commissioners" tenure has come to an end are the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the Commission of Administration of Justice (Ombudsman), the Gender and Equality Commission and the Independent Police Oversight Authority.

The President hailed the commissioners for what he termed as actualising national values and principles of governance, enhancing inclusion and cohesion, making efforts at public wage bill sustainability, transforming policing and fighting corruption.

He noted that the government launched the Zero Fault Audit Campaign, aimed at highlighting merits of having no audit queries in state agencies and departments with the goal of strengthening accountability, openness, integrity and good governance in the public service through the promotion of prudent use and management of public resources. 

"I believe constitutional commissions have an opportunity to promote this approach in government ministries, departments and agencies," he said. 

Speaking after handing over her report to the President, Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Lyn Mengich said the public service wage bill has progressively dropped in her tenure from 51.5 per cent of revenues in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2024.

She said the commission froze salary increases for state corporations besides streamlining allowances, saving Sh11.2 billion. Chairperson of IPOA Anne Makori said the authority was “doing everything possible" to ensure police accountability, saying there were 20,000 complaints, of which 12,732 were resolved.

Chairpersons of the Gender and Equality Commission Joyce Mutinda and Commission of Administration of Justice Florence Kajuju also handed over their reports.