The Public Service Commission is facing a dilemma as State officials and public servants are about to resign to vie for political positions.
State officials and public servants continue to come out in numbers to declare interest in elective positions in the upcoming polls prompting mass resignations ahead of the February 9 deadline.
They have exactly eight days remaining in office before resigning from their respective positions.
According to the Elections Act, all public officers seeking elective positions have to vacate office six months to the General Election, in this case February 9, 2022.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has since gazetted August 9 as the date for the General Election.
“A public officer who intends to contest an election under this Act shall resign from public office at least six months before the date of election,” Section 43 (5) of the Act.
At least five Cabinet Secretaries, four Principal Secretaries, dozens of Chief Administrative Secretaries have expressed an interest in certain elective seats in the August 9 General Election.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff Nazioka Waita has also expressed interest in politics.
Treasury CS Ukur Yattani, Charles Keter (Devolution), John Munyes (Petroleum), Sicily Kariuki (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Simon Chelugui (Labor) are among those eyeing gubernatorial seats in the August 9 polls.
CASs Beatrice Elachi (Public Service), John Mosonik (Petroleum) and Gideon Mung’aro (Devolution) appeared to lift the lid on the impending resignations after they handed in their resignation letters which are awaiting acceptance by the appointing authority.
Several heads of parastatals and government agencies are also in the 2022 political race and are expected to leave office this month.
Among them is former Police Spokesman Charles Owino who has thrown his hat in the race for Siaya governorship.
Owino is currently deputy head of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the police service.
