Lobby Group Moves to Block Meja’s Chairperson Appointment

The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has formally challenged the nomination of Francis Meja as chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), raising constitutional concerns over the legality of the appointment process.

The lobby group says the move, if allowed to stand, could weaken the independence and credibility of one of Kenya’s key constitutional commissions.

COFEK has urged President William Ruto to withdraw the nomination, arguing that it contradicts clear provisions of the Constitution governing State appointments.

The federation maintains that the process failed to meet both legal and ethical standards required for such a senior public office.

At the centre of the dispute is Meja’s current status within the PSC.

According to COFEK, Meja was still serving as a commissioner at the time he was nominated as chairperson, a position that is constitutionally distinct and subject to separate appointment rules.

“The offices of PSC chairperson and commissioner are distinct constitutional positions, each requiring a separate and fully compliant appointment process. Allowing a sitting commissioner to compete for and be promoted to chairperson without first vacating office undermines this distinction and weakens internal accountability,” Mutoro said.

Constitutional Concerns Raised

COFEK secretary general Stephen Mutoro explained that Article 260 of the Constitution defines a PSC commissioner as a State officer.

He noted that Article 233(3)(b) expressly bars a serving State officer from being appointed as a member or chairperson of the PSC.

In his view, this alone renders the nomination unconstitutional.

The controversy emerged after the exit of former PSC chairperson Antony Muchiri, whose tenure ended following his appointment as Kenya’s ambassador to Turkey.

President Ruto subsequently formed a selection panel that advertised the position, selected, and eventually recommended Meja for the position.

However, COFEK argues that the advertisement also excluded applicants who held any state office.

Meja, who was appointed as a commissioner in January 2025, was still advertised as a commissioner on the PSC website as of January 29, 2026.

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Nomination and Parliamentary Role

In spite of these concerns, President Ruto nominated Meja on January 21, 2026, through Notification of Presidential Action No. I of 2026. Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Felix K. Koskei, said the nomination was made “in discharge of the constitutional imperatives on State appointments.”

The nomination has since been forwarded to the National Assembly, which is constitutionally mandated to vet and either approve or reject the nominee before he can assume office.

Mutoro warned that overlooking the alleged procedural flaws could have long-term implications, including allowing Meja to serve beyond the fixed, non-renewable six-year term for PSC members.

“This is not about the personal qualifications of the nominee, but about a flawed and unconstitutional process,” he said, citing Articles 233, 248, and 260 of the Constitution.

Meja’s Background and COFEK’s Next Move

Meja brings an extensive public service and professional background.

He is the founding Director-General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and previously served as Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Meja was appointed to the Council of Murang’a University of Technology in November 2023.

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His term came to an end in January 2025 when he became a PSC commissioner.

He also has over 15 years of experience in banking and financial services, having held senior roles at Equity Bank Kenya PLC and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya.

Meja holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi and previously sought the UDA ticket for Kajiado governor in 2022.

COFEK is now seeking judicial intervention to halt the process before parliamentary vetting proceeds.

It further warns that failure to act could irreversibly damage public confidence in independent constitutional commissions.

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PSC Building in Nairobi. PHOTO/ PSC