Professionals from Gusii ask PSC to give priority to the community in CAS appointments

Advocate Annah Omwega, who was shortlisted for CAS position. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Professionals from the Gusii Community have asked the Public Service Commission to give priority to the community when doing interviews for Chief Administrative Secretaries as of Wednesday this week (March 1).

The professionals who spoke to Journalists in Nairobi said that this was in consideration that the Gusii community for the first time missed out during the appointment of 51 Principal Secretaries in President William Ruto's government last year.

They said that having someone from the community serving in the Chief Administrative Secretary position will go a long way in appeasing members of the community who felt left out when the President announced the new Principal Secretaries in his government.

Led by City Businessman Tom Mogaka the professional vouched for Annah Omwega who is a Lecturer and Legal Consultant at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi who is one of the 240 candidates shortlisted for the position saying that she was qualified for the position.

"We are calling on the President to consider appointing Annah Omwega who is young, female and highly trained advocate from Nyamira County for the position of Chief Administrative Secretary since this will ensure the county is represented in his government," said Mogaka.

The professionals said that Nyamira County had been left out in the appointment of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries and the appointment of Ms Omwega to that position will help placate the region which felt left out of key government appointment for the first time.

ICT expert Jane Nyaboke said that President Ruto had given a promise to empower the youths and downtrodden during campaigns and that Ms Omwega fits the bills since she comes from a humble background and is a youthful leader who has worked hard to be where she is today.

The professionals said that besides Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and the Solicitor General nominee Shadrack Mose, the Gusii community did not get a fair share of government appointments asking Dr Ruto to correct the imbalance by more appointments.

"While we thank President Ruto for appointing Ezekiel Machogu as Education Cabinet Secretary and having Shadrack Mose as the Solicitor General nominee, we request him to consider having Advocate Annah Omwega among the Chief Administrative Secretaries," said Nyaboke.

Nine candidates from the Gusii region were among the 240 candidates shortlisted for the Chief Administrative Secretary position by the Public Service Commission in interviews that are set to be held this week by PSC before names are submitted to the President for the appointment.

Former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, former West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi and former Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga are notable candidates from the community who are set to face the interview panel for applicants who will serve under Cabinet Secretaries.

Veteran Cabinet Minister Christopher Obure who comes from the Gusii community served as the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Transport in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's government with the community having hopes of getting more than one slot.

Omwega is currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Management (Seminars) at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi and unsuccessfully vied for the Woman Representative seat in Nyamira County in 2017.

She is currently a spokesperson of "The Women Empowerment Group" in Nyamira and Kisii counties where she is involved in activities that lobby and advocate for the rights of women and conducted training and motivational talks for more than 50 women groups in various counties.

The Public Service Commission has asked members of the public to avail any credible information of interest relating to any of the shortlisted candidates through sworn affidavits or online submissions to be made by February 28, 2023.

The shortlisting of 240 candidates out of the 5,183 applicants comes after a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) which challenged the legality of creating CAS positions was dismissed paving way for the process of recruitment to be done.

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