Kenyan Cabinet Secretaries To Get Advisers And Consultants

A new regulation will now allow all cabinet secretaries in Kenya, to have at least one advisor and one consultant during their tenures.

According to the new rules by the Public Service Commission, all the advisors and consultants to the cabinet secretaries will be appointed through a competitive procedure on a three-year term which will only be renewable once.

The appointed advisors and consultants will only be allowed to serve during the tenure of the CS and their terms will be terminated in case the CS is dismissed or in case of death of the CS.

The rules contained in the PSC Regulations 2020 will give the PSC powers to have a say in all matters that involve State officials as a way of improving discipline in the agency.

PSC says the positions for principal secretaries will be competitive to avoid the appointment process being politicized.

Applications for the positions of Principal Secretaries will be advertised in two local newspapers which are circulated nationally.

Credentials of persons appointed as advisors to the President, his deputy, and the retired presidents will also be looked into by the PSC.

Those eyeing to work for the senior Government officials including the cooks, Housekeepers, Health and Fitness personnel, gardeners and support staff will have to seek approval by the Public Service Commission.

Other Government officers, CEOs of parastatals and state agencies, who would be in need of personal advisers and assistants will be required to send a request in writing to the PSC, highlighting the competencies skills and experiences they require from such individuals.

The PA to such individuals would only be considered if they are holding the position of a Public servant at the time of the request.

“A personal assistant assigned to a Principal Secretary shall only be assigned from among public officers serving in the public service.”

Anyone applying for the post will be required to have a unique skill that is at the time, not possessed by any other individual at the PSC.

“An adviser shall be responsible for and support the requesting State officer and shall not be assigned any role that is performed by other officers in the public body.”

Expatriates will also be affected by the new PSC regulations as they would be employed on a three-year term which will be renewable once. Their appointments will only be considered if the skill they possess is lacking in the country.

The rules are outlined in PSC Regulations 2020 that was recently approved by the National assembly.