PSC Shortlists Six for CBK Chairperson Position

Six candidates have been shortlisted for the job of chair of the Central Bank of Kenya Board of Directors by the Public Service Commission.

The six include James Lopoyetum, John Konchellah, Andrew Musangi, Thomas Mwadeghu, James Wahome, and Abdikadir Aden.

On July 12, the interviews will take place at the PSC offices.

“Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed at the PSC, Commission House, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi on the date and time indicated. Candidates should be at the venue at least 15 minutes before the starting time,” PSC said.

Additionally, the Commission requested that anybody with relevant information about the applicants contact the PSC by July 10th.

“Members of the public are invited to avail any credible information of interest relating to any of the shortlisted candidates (through affidavits) to the secretary/CEO Public Service Commission, 4th floor Commission House, Harambee Avenue or online through hodrands@publicservice.go.ke.”

The PSC issued an invitation to interested Kenyans on May 3 to submit applications by May 23.

The chosen candidate will succeed Mohamed Nyaoga, who has served the maximum number of two terms as CBK’s leader.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta originally appointed Nyaoga to the office in June 2015.

In June 2019, he received a last four-year term extension.

According to the CBK Act, the chairperson must serve a four-year term before being eligible for reappointment for another four-year term.

A person who has a master’s degree in economics, finance, or law is eligible to serve as chairman under Article 231 of the Constitution and Sections 10-15 of the CBK Act.

Such a person must possess at least ten years of experience in top managerial positions in economics, finance, or law and be “knowledgeable” of topics pertinent to CBK’s duties.

“The chairperson shall convene and chair the meetings of the CBK board,” the laws state.

According to the revised rules that the Treasury announced in March, the CBK chairman, who, unlike the Governor, lacks tenure security, will typically supervise the operations of the top bank in the country.

The chairperson evaluates the CBK Governor’s performance, establishes the bank’s policies (apart from monetary policy formulation), and assesses how the organisation makes use of its resources.