Ombudsman summons top government officers

By Peter Ochieng

Several high-ranking government officers have been summoned by the Commission on Administrative Justice, popularly known as Office of the Ombudsman, over non-responsiveness.

They include Dr Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Basic Education; Mary Muthoni, PS for the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards and Christopher Wanjau, Secretary of the National Registration Bureau.

They have been directed to appear before the Commission on August 7 and 8, 2024, at 10.00am.

“The summons have been issued pursuant to Article 50 (2) (h-k) and Article 252 (3) of the Constitution, as well as Sections 27 and 28 of the Commission on Administrative Justice Act, 2011. The public officers are required to appear for purposes of questioning or disclosure of information and/or production of documents and examination,” the Commission stated.

Additionally, the Commission issued notices to show cause to Engineer Joseph Mbugua, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Roads and Gitonga Mugambi, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Forestry, over their failure to respond to complaints lodged with the Commission.

“After receiving complaints, the Commission contacted the Public Service Commission (PSC) on June 15, 2023. Despite several follow-ups and reminders, responses were not forthcoming. For example, Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni did not address complaints despite multiple reminders, prompting the issuance of the notice to show cause.”

The notices demand that the officers explain within fourteen days why they should not be recorded as unresponsive or unfit to serve.

Failure to adequately respond could result in the said officers being cited in the Commission’s statutory report and facing potential disciplinary actions.

Wanjau has been summoned for failing to address a complaint about a mix-up in identification cards.

The issue, initially raised in 2015, involved an error in the ID issued to a complainant.

Despite multiple follow-ups and notices from the Commission, the National Registration Bureau did not rectify the error, leading to the summons.

Public officials who fail to honour the summons may face fines up to Sh500,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, under Section 52 of the Commission on Administrative Justice Act, 2011.