215 DOs to be hired ahead of coming polls

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Internal Security permanent secretary Mutea Iringo. Photo/SALATON NJAU  

By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.natiomedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, July 25  2012 at  22:30

More than 200 new District Officers will be recruited even as confusion reigns over the fate of 47 new county commissioners whose appointment was nullified by a court.

The recruitment of 215 DOs was aimed at filling vacancies in 515 divisions created in the last five years, acting Internal Security permanent secretary Mutea Iringo said on Wednesday.

The move is also seen as part of an elaborate plan to beef up security ahead of the General Election, planned for March next year.

“We are working with the Public Service Commission to recruit DOs, who will be posted all over the country to supplement government functions at the divisional level,” Mr Iringo said.

He told the Nation that the process of recruiting the officers had began and that the vacancies would soon be advertised in the Press by the PSC.

Internal Security assistant minister in charge of the Provincial Administration Simeon Lesrima backed the DOs’ appointments, saying it is within the law.

“We will still have 400 divisions without DOs after this recruitment,” Mr Lesrima said.

But he criticised the hiring of county commissioners, saying he was not consulted.

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The minister, in sharp contrast from the position taken by his ministry, urged President Kibaki to recall the 47 county commissioners as ordered by the High Court and ignore an appeal commissioned by acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji.

Internal uproar

He further claimed that the appointments had caused an internal uproar with some DCs unhappy with the manner in which some junior officers were promoted in total disregard of merit and experience.

“These people are undermining me. They did not even consult me only sending me to Parliament to answer stupid questions,” said the visibly agitated minister, who is in-charge of the Provincial Administration docket.