Kuria Disagrees With Gachagua Publicly

A heated dispute has emerged within President William Ruto’s administration, exposing internal discord over slot allocations for the National Youth Service (NYS) recruitment drive.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s request for 1,000 NYS slots triggered a standoff with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who staunchly opposed the request, emphasizing a commitment to fairness for all Kenyan applicants.

The disagreement escalated when CS Moses Kuria took to social media, publicly asserting that there would be no preferential treatment or side lists in the recruitment process.

President Ruto echoed this stance during his tours of the Mt Kenya region, underscoring the government’s determination to ensure a bribery-free and impartial recruitment process.

The upcoming NYS recruitment aims to enlist 15,000 servicemen and servicewomen, historically sparking intense lobbying within government circles.

To address transparency concerns, the Public Service Ministry issued strict criteria to the NYS, emphasizing a ward-based allocation of slots based on population.

In response to the internal dispute, CS Kuria directed a letter to NYS Director General James Tembur, urging a fair and transparent distribution process across different wards.

This meticulous approach, according to Kuria, seeks to promote equality and fairness, aligning with the NYS’s role in fostering national unity.

The clash over NYS slots has laid bare divisions within the ruling administration, contrasting Kuria’s firm stance on fairness with reported attempts to secure preferential treatment.

As the recruitment process unfolds, the government’s commitment to transparency and equity will be closely scrutinized, setting the tone for a critical aspect of public service enlistment in Kenya.

The actions taken by CS Kuria to ensure a fair process underscore the administration’s dedication to upholding principles of equality and fairness within the NYS recruitment framework. This internal dispute highlights the delicate balance between political interests and the imperative to maintain an unbiased public service enlistment process.