The Public Service Commission (PSC) will for the first time nominate Central Bank of Kenya governor. In last week’s advert in daily newspapers, the Commission asked for applications for chairperson, governor and deputy governor positions.
The three positions were advertised because the president is required to appoint the trio “through a transparent and competitive process and with the approval of Parliament.”
Previously, Presidents appointed the bank’s chiefs. Now the bank will have two deputy governors; one is currently in office. Dr Haron Sirima, is the deputy governor while Dr Mbui Wagaca is the acting chairman.
Prof Njuguna Ndung’u exited two weeks ago after his term ended. Previous Central Bank governors – Andrew Mullei, Nahashon Nyagah, Micah Cheserem, Eric Kotut and Philip Ndegwa – left office under controversial circumstances. Prof Ndung’u was the first to serve under the fixed two terms of four years each.
He also completed his second term under a cloud of corruption allegations. Kenya’s first African Central Bank governor was Duncan Ndegwa who served for 17 years.
He was appointed by country’s first President Jomo Kenyatta in 1966. Others served between two and eight years.
From history, the first governor of the independent Republic of Kenya was Dr Leon Baranski from Poland who was appointed by President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Two weeks ago, the banking regulator advertised for 10 senior positions, nine of which were directors.
The bank is looking for directors to run its finance, internal audit, banking services, security services, financial markets, economics and financial systems.
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