Court suspend appointment of CASs

The Employment and Labor Court has suspended the implementation of the establishment of the office of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the public service.

The ruling comes even as the Public Service Commission (PSC) advertised the positions with Chairperson Anthony Muchiri saying the applications are open till October 27.

Justice Monica Mbaru granted the order following an application by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and has directed it to serve the PSC and the Attorney General with the application before tomorrow.

“This honorable court is pleased to stay the implementation of the processes towards establishment of the office of Chief Administrative Secretary in the Public Service following the collection of public views pending the hearing and determination of this petition,” Justice Mbaru ruled.

LSK argued that the PSC never disclosed to the public the effect of hiring persons who are not identified by the Constitution.

Eric Theuri argued that CASs have a similar role as Principal Secretaries and will further deplete Kenyans’ pockets as they will further stretch an already bloated civil service.

“It is no doubt that the Kenyan economy is struggling, which has caused a financial strain on many Kenyans and pushed taxation beyond the elastic limit of the majority of Kenyans. Therefore, the establishment of the said CAS position must conform, and be seen to conform with the principles provided for in Article 201 (d) of the Constitution; to the effect that it ensures no duplicity of roles between CAS and Principal Secretaries,” LSK argued in its case filed by Theuri, Wesonga, and Company Advocates.

Immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta created the CAS office which reports to the Cabinet Secretary in the performance of his/her duties in 2018.