Public Service Commission on spot over irregular recruitment in government departments

The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has resolved to summon the leadership of the Public Service Commission (PSC) over irregular recruitment in government entities following concerns raised in the Auditor-General’s 2023/2024 financial year reports.

The decision was reached on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 during separate sessions with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the State Department for Forestry, where the committee examined audit findings pointing to staffing anomalies.

The committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, questioned Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu over the recruitment of Foreign Service Officers and cadets beyond the approved establishment.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs advertised 16 vacancies for Foreign Service Officers III, but the PSC appointed 22 officers.

The report further revealed that 28 Foreign Service Cadets were recruited in excess of the approved staff establishment.

Lawmakers sought to know why the department accepted the additional officers despite lacking budgetary provisions and why it did not reject the excess recruitment.

Appearing before the committee, Njogu maintained that recruitment is undertaken by the Public Service Commission.

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Meanwhile, the Auditor-General’s report on the State Department for Forestry revealed a mismatch in staffing, with the department employing 82 administrative support staff against an approved establishment of 45, while only 11 technical officers were in post against an approved establishment of 86, leaving a shortage of 75 technical officers.

Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi told MPs that the department is working with the PSC to redeploy excess administrative staff and recruit personnel for the critical technical positions.

Mwale directed the Diaspora Affairs PS to submit the names of the 28 Foreign Service Cadets and provide details of the salaries paid to them.

He said the committee would also engage the Public Service Commission and the State Department for Public Service to establish how the recruitment irregularities occurred.

“This is a matter of grave concern to this watchdog committee, and we want to get to the bottom of it. Kenyans must get value for their money,” Mwale said.

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