Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Ambassador Anthony Muchiri has dismissed allegations of sabotage leveled against him by the Attorney General, Justin Muturi.
Speaking on Tuesday 13, when he appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) to defend decision to amend the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill, 2023, Muturi revealed that his staff are demoralized, and this has affected implementation of services at the State office.
The Bill, currently before the National Assembly, seeks to create a board for the State law office that is assumed will make it more independent.
In a statement to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of the National Assembly, Muturi accused the PSC of appointing staff, including senior staff, for his office without his knowledge.
Also Read: AG Muturi Reveals How PSC is Sabotaging His Work
PSC Responds to Claims Made by Muturi
He further alleged that the Commission appointed two Senior Deputy Solicitors General without his input or consultation.
Additionally, Muturi claimed solely that he (Attorney General) is unable to deploy staff to Ministries as the Commission allegedly insists that deployment of staff is the Commission’s function.
In response to Muturi’ s remarks, Ambassador Anthony Muchiri in a letter presented by PSC Commissioner Dr. Mary Mwiandi to the JLAC, refuted the allegations as baseless.
“The Commission has always supported the Office of the Attorney General with all staffing needs. Indeed, early in the year 2023, the Commission requested the Attorney General to present indents to enable recruitment of additional staff in his office, but the Attorney General declined to do so,” read Muchiri’s letter in part.
The PSC chairperson urged the JLAC committee to acknowledge the provisions outlined in the Public Service Commission Act, Regulations, Policies, and Guidelines concerning staff recruitment and appointment, which the Attorney General has consistently failed to adhere to.
Also Read: PSC Reveals Govt Offices with Highest Number of Fake Degrees
Muturi wants Office Separated from PSC
The Attorney General is currently advocating for the detachment of his office from the Public Service Commission (PSC), citing allegations of sabotage in decision-making processes.
He also claimed that the connection between the PSC and the has never worked well for the Attorney General’s office.
The Attorney General asserts that the PSC’s failure to adequately recruit and retain sufficient state counsel has led to government losses in multiple court cases.
Additionally, Muturi contends that the affiliation between the PSC and the Attorney General’s office has been consistently ineffective.
“We need to be given an opportunity to show what we can do with a fully constituted workforce,” Muturi said.
During his narration of how the Public Service Commission (PSC) has consistently recommended the appointment of officers to him, some as recently as this year, Muturi emphasized the necessity of establishing a board to assist in the appointment, promotion, and enforcement of discipline within the State law office workforce.
“Let me be honest, and I have nothing against those officers, but if positions are established in the office of the AG and they are given to people who don’t work there, it takes away the possibility of those working in the State law office to grow,” he told members of the committee.
JLAC Chairperson George Murugara, assured the Commission that his Commitee will consider all views presented before it when making final recommendations to be submitted before the National Assembly.
