Outgoing NCIC faces scrutiny over last-minute recruitment of 22 staff

The outgoing leadership of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has come under fire for reportedly bringing in 22 new employees without following proper recruitment rules just weeks before leaving office, a Senate committee was told on Monday.

During a hearing with the Committee on Cohesion, NCIC Chief Executive Officer Daniel Giti said the commissioners insisted on hiring the new staff despite clear warnings that the process was unlawful.

The recruits began work on September 1 at the Nairobi headquarters and in various regional offices, although the vacancies were never advertised to the public.

Giti, who assumed office on April 1, explained that he faced intense pressure from the commissioners to carry out the recruitment. Departments that raised concerns were reportedly threatened that their positions could be “reviewed,” creating a climate of fear within the organisation.

He added that the secretariat’s advice was disregarded and his objections were dismissed.

“Yes. They put me under pressure to employ since I was new in the Commission. It was a resolution of the commissioners and not the entire organisation,” he told senators.

He emphasised that he repeatedly cautioned the commissioners about the legal implications of hiring without following proper procedures, but the warnings were ignored.

According to Giti, the commissioners argued that as an independent institution, NCIC could “do whatever it wants” and directed him to order the human resource department to proceed with the recruitment.

“We went back and forth and even wrote to the Public Service Commission. They wanted me to follow what they wanted,” he said when responding to Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma.

The new employees were posted across the country, including in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Samburu, Wajir, Murang’a, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Tharaka-Nithi, Bungoma, Embu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta counties, in addition to the headquarters.

The positions filled included programme officer, librarian II, clerical officer I, and assistant office administrator II.

Normally, NCIC requires all vacancies to be publicly advertised in newspapers, on broadcast media, and on its website.

However, the commissioners chose to consider only those who had submitted unsolicited applications in the previous six months.

The head of the legal department told the committee that he was never consulted and first learned of the hiring during the hearing.

Initially, the plan was to recruit 20 new staff, but two additional individuals were later added without explanation.

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Committee chairperson and Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute criticised the move, noting that NCIC, which oversees compliance in other institutions, had itself violated regulations.

Nominated Senator Consolata Nabwire said: “We should, as a committee, declare this recruitment null and void and let the EACC [Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission] swing into action.”

The outgoing commission was led by chairperson Samuel Kobia and vice-chairperson Dorcas Kedogo, with commissioners Philip Okundi, Abdulaziz Ali Farah, Danvas Makori, Sam Kona, and Wambui Nyutu.

A notice dated November 4 by the Interior Cabinet Secretary declared all commissioner positions vacant, paving the way for a new team.