The eyes are on Head of Public Service Felix Koskei after he extended the term of a Managing Director of a state agency over what he terms as exemplary performance.
This was in contrary to his own earlier memo that warned against the move.
Insiders termed the move ironical and sought to establish the motivation.
“We don’t know why. It’s simply ironical,” said an insider aware of the developments.
Koskei overturned a decision by Principal Secretary, state department for ASALs and Regional Development to decline a request for extension and instead directing the board to identify three suitable candidates for appointment as Acting MD.
The Head of Public Service who is also the Chief of Staff contradicted his own circular issued three months earlier in making the irregular appointment.
The appointment now violates the Cabinet resolution and the law including the Public Service Policy popularly known as Mwongozo that outlaws any extension of tenure of a Chief Executive who has served two terms.
Koskei claimed Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority (ENNDA) board had resolved to extend Eng. Ali Ibrahim Hassan’s contract for one more year as his two-term contract expires on October 1, 2025.
Despite the request and ENNDA board notifying the PS on the resolution and request, PS Kello Harsama declined the move acceding to the Head of Public Service and President Ruto’s Chief of Staff.
“The exemplary performance of Eng. Ali is acknowledged by the Board under the supervision of the State Corporations Advisory Committee for financial year 2002/23 and 2023/24 at 96.93%,” Koskei’s letter to Harsama said in part.
Koskei’s letter dated August 26, 2025 adds; “In view of the foregoing, and taking cognizance of the fact that ENNDA remains a going concern until formally wound up, a first and final extension of the tenure of Eng. Ali is hereby granted for a period of one (1) year, ending up on 3oth September 2026. This extension is intended to enable Eng. Li to guide the authority through the planned reforms while ensuring organizational stability.”
The letter was copied to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his East Africa Community Affairs and ASALs and Regional Development counterpart Beatrice Askul.
Koskei’s decision contracted his earlier circular that froze any hiring, renewal or extensions of any contract for officers working with 16 agencies that are supposed to be merged in line with a cabinet resolution of January 2025.
ENNDA is among the 16.
On May 16, 2025 Koskei issued a circular to all PSs and Chairs/CEOs of state corporations titled suspension of renewal of contracts for officers serving in state corporations earmarked for reforms.
As part of the framework established to facilitate the implementation of the reforms, Koskei said cabinet issued a moratorium prohibiting any changes to staff organisation, salary structures, or roll out of new capital projects in the affected State Corporations.
“In that regard and in furtherance of the Cabinet decision, it’s hereby directed that the following measures shall be undertaken a Moratorium is issued on recruitment and renewal of contracts for Chief Executive Officers or any other officers serving on contract terms at the lapse of their current tenure.”
“iThat any ongoing recruitment processes of staff in any cadre halted forthwith and iii) any implementation of approvals of human resources policies, personal emoluments and benefits of any kind, staff organization, salary structures or roll out of any capital projects is hereby suspended.”
Many are waiting to see what happens next amid plans for other parties to move to court to stop the plans.
St. George’s Girls School In Nairobi Closed After Night Of Student Unrest
