The future of the 51 principal secretaries President William Ruto hired in November 2022 hangs in the balance.
The Public Service Commission has narrowed down to 109 persons from whom the best would be picked as their possible replacements.
More than 2,500 Kenyans applied for the PS job, albeit a lower number compared to the 9,000 that sought the posts in 2022.
With the shortlisting, which comes hot on the heels of Cabinet changes, some of the current PSs could be sent packing.
In the Cabinet changes, President Ruto handed plum posts to Raila Odinga men, including the much coveted one of CS National Treasury.
There are indications that as many as 15 positions would be dropped in a planned reorganisation of government.
It is understood that with the President seeking to accommodate new allies, any of the current crop of PSs is likely to be affected.
Should it play out that the 15 posts are eventually dropped, only 36 positions would be available.
An analysis of the shortlist by the PSC and prevailing polity points to the factors that will define President Ruto’s choice.
Pundits say the President is likely to drop PSs who were nominated by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Allies of the former DP have been dropped from various plum posi- tions, especially after his impeachment.
President Ruto is expected to give some slots to his newfound political allies Raila and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.
A few allies of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki are also likely to be accommodated, going by the list.
Notable names from his Mt Kenya East backyard include former Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu, Patrick Mwenda and Isaac Kaberia.
The list has notable names linked to the former Prime Minister among them Judith Pareno — a once long-serving ODM election board chair. Abdullahi Mohamed Diriye, who served as Wajir South MP between 2013 and 2017, has also been short- listed, so has Ahmed Abdisalan who was ODM Wajir North MP until August 2022.
Raila’s side had reportedly demanded 10 slots but is understood could land five or six considering Ruto may retain a number of the current PSs. David Osiany, who served in Uhuru’s administration as Trade Chief Administrative Secretary, is also on the list.
He carries himself as an innovative communicator.
The youthful politician was among the former PM’s top picks when Uhuru extended an olive branch to the opposition after the 2018 handshake.
PSC has also shortlisted Gabriel Oguda, a Twitter-savvy commentator who takes no prisoners in defending Raila, and now the Ruto government online. Also in the list is former Nyeri deputy governor Caroline Karugu who is associated with Uhuru.
She was among the few Mt Kenya leaders who stood by Uhuru in his campaign for Raila.
Dr Ouma Oluga, a former medical practitioners’ union boss and once director of the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services, has also been listed. Sammy Wakiaga, a renowned businessman with close ties to Raila, also made the cut.
Former ODM nominated MP Andrew Toboso has also made it to the shortlist as well as Dr Patrick Amoth who was recently appointed director general of health.
Other Uhuru’s men on the list include Nicholas Muraguri who served as Health PS and later Lands PS in the Jubilee government.
For Ruto, the notable allies for his pick include Wilson Sossion, former Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo, former New KCC CEO Nixon Sigey, and former ASALs PS Micah Powon. Sossion has been in the cold since losing the Bomet senator nominations and also lost in the botched appointments of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
Limo was on the list of Ruto’s CAS picks —as Treasury nominee— which the courts quashed as unconstitutional while Powon went home after Uhuru’s term ended. Dr Kenneth Tarus, who was fired from Kenya Power, has also been shortlisted.
He is a Ruto man.
Other notable figures in the PSC list are Margaret Mwachanya, a former IEBC commissioner, former Kemsa chief executive officer Andrew Mulwa and Nancy Gichungwa, a former Kiambu county CEC.
Past appointments have also had allies of Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Candidates from their backyards include Ignatius Wekesa, Patrick Musili and Bungoma politician cum varsity don Peter Wanyama.
President Ruto faces a dilemma even as PSC angles to complete the recruitment process before the end of February.
There has also been disquiet that the current appointments did not meet the threshold of regional balance.
Political commentator Albert Kasembeli says the list was telling, adding that the President has a lee- way in the picks.
“The President has the leeway to determine how he wants the government organised along the ministries. He will most definitely factor in his allies,” he said.
The Star understands that several PSs are reportedly sitting on the edge, notably those with issues with their respective Cabinet Secretaries.
The current team of PSs include Raymond Omollo (Interior), Korir Sing’oei (Foreign Affairs), Julius Korir (Water), Teresia Mbaika (Devolution), Julius Bitok (Citizen Services), Chris Kiptoo (Treasury), James Muhati (Economic Planning), Patrick Mariru (Defence), Veronica Nduva (Performance Management), Amos Gathecha (Public Service), Joseph Mbugua (Roads), Geoffrey Kaituko (Maritime), Joseph Motari (Social Protection), Abdi Dubart (EAC), Elijah Mwangi (Mining), Idris Dokota (Cabinet Affairs), and Mohammed Dagar (Transport).
Others are Nixon Korir (Lands), Charles Hinga (Housing), Joel Arumonyang (Public Works), Edward Kisiangani (Broadcasting), Belio Kipsang (Education), Esther Mworia (TVET), Beatrice Inyangala (Higher Education), Kello Harsama (Crop Development), Harry Kimtai (Livestock), Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry), Alex Wachira (Energy), Mohamed Liban (Petroleum), and Alfred K’Ombudo (Trade).
Also in the team is Abubakar Hassan (Investment Promotion), Juma Mukhwana (Industry), Patrick Kilemi (Cooperatives), Susan Mangeni (MSMEs), Ismail Madey (Youth Affairs), Jonathan Mueke (Sports), Festus Ngeno (Environment), Ephantus Kimotho (Forestry), John Ololtuaa (Tourism), Sylvia Muhoro (Wildlife), Ummy Bashir (Heritage), Betsy Njagi (Blue Economy), Shadrack Mwadime (Labour), and Paul Ronoh (Agricul- ture).
Some principal secretaries are seen as having taken a back seat in their dockets at a time when the government is struggling with communicating what the departments do.
After shortlisting, PSC is expected to conduct the interviews and select those they believe fit the bill. The list would be sent to the President to nominate candidates for vetting by line committees of the National Assembly.