The government is set to fill all vacant positions for Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs within the next 90 days.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki however said the vacancy will only be filled in places where interviews have been concluded.
"Plans are underway to recruit and deploy Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to fill the vacant positions," he said on Wednesday.
The CS however did not disclose the exact number of vacancies, explaining that it happens every day due to various circumstances.
"The vacancies are a result of natural attrition, dismissal from service for officers after their cases have been concluded by the Courts or Public Service Commission, and there are no pending appeals before the Courts, promotion of the officeholders to higher offices, resignation and redesignation of the officer holders," Kindiki explained.
The CS was responding to questions raised by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute and other Senators on the recruitment and deployment of Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs.
In August, The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu temporarily stopped the recruitment of assistant chiefs in three sub-locations in Homa Bay following a complaint by disgruntled residents.
The government had been in the process of recruiting assistant chiefs for Nyamaji East and Nyamaji West sublocations.
A similar exercise was also undertaken to employ an assistant chief for Waware North sublocation in Rusinga East.
Six residents moved to court, citing irregularities. "Many candidates did not attend the interviews because they never got the SMS for the invitation," the petition said.
The national government coordination delivery unit employs chiefs and assistant chiefs who represent the government at the grassroots level.
Their responsibilities include sensitizing locals on government programs and maintaining law and order in their appointed areas.
Chiefs and assistant chiefs have jurisdiction and powers over residents within their respective areas.
