Lydia Nzomo tops TSC nominees’ list forwarded to President Uhuru Kenyatta

By Martin Mutua

KENYA: Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development director Lydia Nzomo tops a list of three nominees whose names have been forwarded to President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointment as chairperson of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Impeccable sources told The Standard that the other nominees are former Education PS George Godia and a TSC employee Simon Kavisi.

Mr Godia, however, was not among the names shortlisted in the initial list. The President is now expected to pick one of the three names and forward it to Parliament for approval.

This is the second time Dr Nzomo is topping the list arising from interviews by the Prof James Kamunge-led panel but it seems some powerful individuals at the Office of the President have been working round-the-clock to frustrate her appointment.

Early this year, Parliament rejected the appointment of a Mr Kiragu wa Magochi, whose name had been forwarded for approval despite coming second to Dr Nzomo.

Former Cabinet minister Beth Mugo, now nominated Senator and former Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, led legislators in rejecting the list and demanding that Dr Nzomo be appointed to the chairperson’s position.

The move came as the High Court ruled on Wednesday  that interviews meant for short-listing candidates to the position be halted and the names of those who had been shortlisted for the position be forwarded to the president for appointment.