National Assembly Approves Francis Meja as Chairperson of Public Service Commission

The National Assembly has approved the appointment of Francis Meja as the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), following a vote presided over by Speaker Moses Wetang'ula on Wednesday.

The decision follows a recommendation from the Departmental Committee on Labour, which conducted the vetting process for the nominee earlier this week. The House formalised the appointment under the provisions of Article 233(2) of the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.

Meja, who has been serving as a member of the commission since January 2025, faced questions during the vetting process regarding his eligibility. Some observers and committee members raised concerns about a sitting commissioner being elevated to the chairmanship.

During the debate, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo clarified that there was no constitutional barrier to the elevation, provided that the nominee resigns from his current position before formally assuming the new office.

A career administrator, Meja is widely recognized for his tenure as the Director-General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). During his time at the agency, he led the automation of operations and the rollout of the Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS).

His professional background includes more than 15 years in the banking and financial services sector, having held management roles at Equity Bank Kenya and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya. He also served as the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

As the head of the PSC, Meja will oversee the body responsible for human resource management across the public service. This includes the establishment and abolition of offices, recruitment, and the exercise of disciplinary control over public officers.

The position became vacant following the exit of Ambassador Anthony Muchiri, who was recently assigned to a diplomatic posting in Turkey. Meja was selected for the role after a competitive shortlisting and interview process conducted late last year.

The transition comes at a time when the commission is tasked with ensuring efficiency and meritocracy within the civil service. Meja is expected to leverage his experience in digital transformation to further streamline public service delivery.

The formal appointment will now proceed to the final administrative stages before he officially takes over the leadership of the constitutional commission.