President William Ruto has nominated former IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu as a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC). Molu, who was a prominent figure in the 2022 presidential election saga, stood by former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati during the tense standoff over the presidential results at Bomas of Kenya.
Molu, along with fellow commissioner Abdi Guliye, played a crucial role in announcing President Ruto as the winner of the contentious race, after some commissioners, led by Vice-Chairperson Juliana Cherera, rejected the final results that showed Ruto narrowly defeating Azimio’s Raila Odinga.
The announcement was followed by chaos at Bomas, where Molu was reportedly injured during the scuffle as Chebukati was escorted away by security personnel.
In addition to Molu’s nomination, President Ruto has also appointed former NTSA Director-General Francis Meja as a member of the PSC, which is responsible for overseeing the recruitment and management of civil servants.
Other notable appointments include former Principal Secretary in the Public Service Ministry Mary Kimonye, who has been nominated as Vice-Chairperson of the Commission. Kimonye, who has been serving as the Head of Governance and Public Service Reforms, will bring her extensive experience to the role.
Ruto has also nominated Harun Maalim, the current Executive Director of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, to the PSC. Other nominees include former Public Service and Gender Affairs Principal Secretary Mwanamaka Mabruk, Irene Cherotich Asienga, former Principal Secretary of Youth Francis Otieno Owino, and Joan Andisi.
The list of nominees has been forwarded to the National Assembly, where MPs will vet the candidates before making the final decision.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei confirmed that the nominations were made in anticipation of vacancies that will arise in January 2025 when the terms of current officeholders will expire.
“The President has exercised his constitutional mandate to make these nominations, and the names have been formally transmitted to Parliament for consideration and subsequent appointment,” Koskei said in a statement on Friday.
