Candidates on the spot over poor grasp of law

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Anne Ambwere being interviewed for a post in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission at the Public Service commission in Nairobi 

By ABY AGINA aagina@ke.nationmedia.com and PETERSON THIONG’O pwanjiru@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, August 23  2011 at  22:00

IN SUMMARY

• Most of the applicants seeking to sit in the salaries commission fail to satisfactorily cite provisions on leadership and integrity

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Applicants seeking to represent the Public Service Commission in the salaries agency were on Tuesday put to task over their lack of knowledge about the Constitution.

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Most of the candidates seeking to sit in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission could not satisfactorily cite provisions of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

The applicants could only state honesty, transparency and meritocracy, leaving out key responsibilities such as discipline and commitment, competence, nepotism, and accountability. 

Leading the interview panel was PSC vice chair Rosemary Nyanjom and commissioner Johnson Otenyo, who grilled the applicants at the PSC headquarters in Nairobi.

Responding to a question asked by the vice-chair, Ms Anne Ambwere — a former commissioner in the Ministry of Gender — told the panel: “I have in my 33 years service to the public sector demonstrated honesty, transparency and accountability.”

Fifteen candidates were interviewed on Tuesday. They included Ms Sophia Githuku, Mr Sammy Njema, Mr Geoffrey Omondi, Mr Cleophas Munyua and Ms Esther Gachango.

Asked what he will bring to the yet to be established commission, Mr Omondi pointed to his experience in the Labour Ministry.

“As a labour arbitrator in the ministry, I have helped solve numerous labour disputes involving both the government and private sector,” he told the panel.

Most of the applicants also failed to satisfactorily give a road map of coming up with a strategic plan for the commission.

Ms Nyanjom told the Nation that they were looking forward to completing the interviews by Wednesday.

“We shall forward two names, one male and one female, to the two principals for recommendation to Cabinet by latest Friday,” she said.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga will select one nominee.

The commission is tasked with addressing long-standing wage disputes in the public service. PSC has been accused of setting up a skewed salary scheme, which has denied some workers better pay over the years.

On Wednesday, the panel will interview Mr Daniel Ogutu, Ms Jane Mutua, Mr Naftali Wambugu, Dr X.N Iraki, Ms Judith Obam and Ms Rose Mkalama.