Uhuru to receive CBK governor list next week as interviews start

Politics and policy

Dr Haron Sirima. According to a recent poll by Reuters, the deputy CBK governor is seen as a safe bet. PHOTO | FILE 

By ALLAN ODHIAMBO, aodhiambo@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• The Public Service Commission (PSC) will test five short-listed candidates for the position as it aims to fill the influential slot by May.
• A PSC source said three top candidates will be known by Friday and their names submitted to President Uhuru Kenyatta by next Friday to pick his preferred candidate. His choice would need to be approved by the Parliament.
• Previous chiefs were named by the president without a formal application process.

Three most preferred candidates to succeed Njuguna Ndung’u as Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor will be known later in the week as closed interviews start on Tuesday morning.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) will test five short-listed candidates for the position as it aims to fill the influential slot by May.

Current deputy CBK deputy governor, Dr Haron Sirima, the Economic Affairs director at Treasury, Dr Geoffrey Ngungi Mwau and former Planning Permanent Secretary and one time CBK deputy governor Dr Edward Sambili are among those short-listed to replace Prof Ndung’u who stepped down on March 3 after serving the maximum of two four-year terms.

Dr Patrick Ngugi Njoroge and Dr Peninah Wanjira Kariuki also made the cut and will battle it out with the three veterans.

A PSC source said three top candidates will be known by Friday and their names submitted to President Uhuru Kenyatta by next Friday to pick his preferred candidate. His choice would need to be approved by the Parliament.

This is the first time the central banker will be chosen through open competition. Previous chiefs were named by the president without a formal application process.

Seven out of 10 economists polled by Reuters last month expect the top job to go to Dr Sirima with the analysts saying that he is seen as a safe choice who would maintain the bank’s policy on price and exchange rate stability.

READ: PSC shortlists five to battle out for Central Bank governor position

PSC will Tuesday also conduct interviews for the CBK chairman position which attracted eight applicants with only four making it to the shortlist.

“It will be a closed door interview to give candidates the best environment to present their competences and for panelists to evaluate the best three candidates for each post,” PSC chairperson Prof Margaret Kobia told the Business Daily.

Dr Benard Mbui Wagacha, who is the outgoing CBK chairman and doubling up as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s economic affairs advisor made it to the shortlist of new CBK chairman alongside veteran lawyer Jairus Mohammed Nyaoga.

Others in the race to become the new CBK chairman are Dr Benson Akong’o Ateng’ who is the current chairman of Consolidated Bank of Kenya and Mr Nicholas Bartuiyot Korir who presently is on secondment to Comesa Monetary Institute from Kenya School of Monetary Studies which he headed.

Interviews for CBK deputy governor are expected later this month after the PSC re-advertised the position after 42 applicants failed to impress the selection panel.

Public servants, bankers and serving CBK employees have been barred from the race for the position of deputy governor.

In the cancelled round of CBK deputy governor recruitment, among the 42 applicants were top CBK staff including Ms Rose Detho (Director in charge of Strategic Management), Gerald Arita Nyaoma, (Director Financial Markets), Daniel Mwirigi (Deputy Director Research) and Nicholas Korir, formerly Director Policy Analysis, who is currently on secondment to Comesa Monetary Institute.