Former Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga is among shortlisted candidates for the position of member of the Commission of Administrative Justice (CAJ)- Office of the Ombundsman.
In a notice by the Chairperson, Selection Panel for the selection of nominees for appointment as Chairperson and Two (2) Members, CAJ, Edwin Makori, on October 8, 2024, Omanga was listed among 42 applicants who were shortlisted for the positions.
“The selection panel has considered all the applications for the position of Chairperson, CAJ and shortlisted the following candidates to appear for interviews on the date and time indicated against their names,” read part of the notice.
On the other hand, 10 applicants have been shortlisted for appointment as the Office of the Ombundsaman’s chairperson.
Other shortlisted candidates for the position include former ODM National Elections Board chair Judith Nayiai Pareno, and Major (Rtd) John Kamunya Karanja.
The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed at Harambee House, 12th Floor Boardroom in Nairobi starting from October 17 on the time indicated in the schedule.
Shortlist for the position of Chairperson and members, CAJ
Candidates are expected to report at the venue at least thirty minutes before the scheduled time.
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In addition, the candidates are expected to carry along listed documents which include National Identity Card, Academic and Professional Certificates and Transcripts.
Valid clearances from the Higher Education Loans Board, Kenya Revenue Authority, a registered Credit Reference Bureau, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (Police Clearance), and a Self-declaration form duly stamped by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission will also be required during the interviews.
Members of the Public are invited to avail any information relating to any of the shortlisted candidates (through sworn affidavits) to the Chairperson, Selection Panel, Harambee House, 12th floor, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi or through email to [email protected] so as to be received on or before Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 at 5.00 p.m. (E.A.T).
If selected, Omanga shall join CAJ which is a Constitutional commission established Under Article 59 (4) of the Constitution, and the CAJ Act, 2011.
The mandate of the office of the Ombudsman is two-fold and extends to both national and county governments.
Firstly, the Commission has the mandate of tackling maladministration (improper administration) in the public sector.
CAJ in this regard is empowered to, among other things, investigate complaints of delay, abuse of power, unfair treatment, manifest injustice or discourtesy.
Secondly, the Commission has the mandate of overseeing and enforcing the implementation of the access to Information Act, 2016.
Omanga rise to the top
Omanga rose to prominence in 2013 when she was appointed a director at KenGen, a position she held until 2017 before venturing into politics when she vied for the Nairobi Women Representative position but lost to Esther Passaris of the ODM Party.
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After losing the elections, Omanga was nominated to the Senate by Jubilee Party a position she held until 2022.
In the 2022 polls, she again attempted her luck at the Nairobi Women Representative position under United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party but still lost to Passaris.
After unsuccessfully vying for the Nairobi woman representative position, the politician was among the 50 individuals who had been nominated by President William Ruto as Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS), with the head of state nominating her to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
However, the High Court in March 2023 stopped the 50 CASs from assuming office pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Katiba Institute.
Justice Hedwig Ong’undi also temporarily barred the 50 CASs from earning any salary, remuneration and any benefit until the court rules on the matter.
Ruto on CASs
In June this year, President Ruto ruled out any possibility of appointing the Chief Administrative Secretaries in the near future.
Ruto said despite parliament making the necessary legislative approvals that paved way for their appointments, he had made a deliberate decision to delay it.
“I realised we were in a position where we could not afford to manage the rising wage bill,” he said.
Speaking during a TV interview, the head of state also explained that this would only happen when the economist situation stabilizes.
“No CAS will be appointed until when we have an economy that supports more opportunities,” he asserted.
The announcement was a big blow to several of his allies including Omanga, who had been appointed and awaiting to be absorbed.
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