Mercy Mwangangi, Chebukati's Wife Among 477 Listed For PS Jobs

Outgoing Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi and Mary Chebukati, the wife of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, are among 477 people shortlisted for the position of Principal Secretaries (PSs).

Mwangangi was listed as candidate number 307 while Mary was named as candidate 296 in the list released on Thursday, October 6 by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Mary Wanyonyi, CPA, is the Senior Deputy Accountant General and Head of the Accounting Unit at the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce with a bias in Accounting.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati's wife, Mary Chebukati. /FILE

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) and a member of ICPAK and ICIFA and has been a member of the boards of Cooperative University College, Kenyatta National Hospital and Maasai Mara University. 

Mwangangi on the other hand rose to prominence as Health CAS during the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Her sultry voice during press briefings on the state of the pandemic in the country had wowed every Kenyan, especially men, and journalists mesmerised by her eloquent response to questions.

She joined the University of Nairobi for a degree in Medicine and graduated in 2009. The 36-year-old is an alumnus of Pangani Girls High School and in 2015, she graduated with a Master of Health Economics and Policy from the University of Adelaide, Australia.

Others listed included Housing, Agriculture and ICT PSs, Charles Hinga, Francis Owino and Jerome Ochieng, among allies of former President Uhuru Kenyatta who served in various capacities.

Esther Koimett (Broadcasting and Telecommunications), Peter Kaberia (Industrialisation), Julius Jwan (Education), Saitoti Torome (Planning), and Nelson Marwa (Social Protection) were other PSs in Uhuru's government who made the shortlist.

Others included Belio Kipsang (Regional and Northern Corridor Development), Margaret Mwakimu (TVET) and Fred Sigor (Wildlife).

A number of President William Ruto's allies had also made the cut among the 477 shortlisted.

Former Lang'ata MP Nixon Korir, who lost his seat to Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o was picked alongside Isaac Mwaura, who lost in the United Democratic Alliance party primaries.

Other Kenya Kwanza politicians also included in the list were Chris Wamalwa who contested for the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat and lost to Governor George Natembeya and former Narok governor, Samuel Tunai.

Other prominent names included Standard Media Group (SMG) managing editor, Andrew Tanui Kipkoech, director of the PSC corporate communications Browne Kutswa, former Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, Daystar University Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Laban Ayiro and IEBC communications manager Tabitha Mutemi, a member of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).

PSC says the 477 names were picked from the 9,154 people who applied to fill the vacant PS positions after the application deadline was extended from September 20 to 27 this year.

How To Send Views on Shortlisted PSs

The commission has similarly invited members of the public to send their views on the suitability of the shortlisted candidates to psinterviews2022@publicservice.go.ke.

Members of the public have been advised to share their sentiments on the 477 names before Wednesday, October 12 when the interviews start as part of public participation in the hiring. The selection interviews will be at PSC head office in Nairobi.

Names of successful applicants with them be submitted to Ruto for nomination. 

President William Ruto speaking during the announcement of Cabinet Secretaries at State House on September 27, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO