Senior technocrats dominate hot race for PS positions

Others interviewed were former prison commander Wycliffe Ogallo, Dr Wilfred Marube the CEO of Export Promotion and Branding Agency and Jane Kiringai, the chair of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Sources within the commission said those interviewed would be rated on a score of 100 and the whole list passed to the president to pick the lucky 49.

Another source said only those scoring over 70 per cent would be recommended for an appointment with the president getting a long list and being left with the discretion to make his pick.

Others interviewed included former nominated MP David ole Sankok, South Eastern University Deputy Vice-chancellor Prof Zipporah Ng'ang'a, former CAS Winnie Guchu and chair of the Library and Information Studies Department at the University of Nairobi Dorothy Mothoni Njiraine.

Mwakima described the interview as pleasant, adding that she was hopeful.

Others were Telkom Engineer Dr Martin Koyabe based in the diaspora and banking risk analyst Michael Kagoni who is a former Murang'a MCA who rescued Ekeza Sacco.

Mary Wanyonyi Chebukati, the wife of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati, was interviewed for three hours on Wednesday.

Ms Chebukati who is currently Senior Deputy Accountant General and Head of the Accounting Unit at the National Treasury since January 2019 holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce with a bias in Accounting.

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K). Sankok defended the inclusion of Kenya Kwanza-allied politicians in the list of prospective PSs. He said only the PSC could speak about their late inclusion as he had personally applied for the post in time.

"Many Kenyans who are arguing against our inclusion are speaking as if they live in utopia yet they were here when we transited from reputable professions into politics," he said.

He added that he was looking forward to "being PS nominee number one after serving the country as PLWD national assembly nominated member."