NAIROBI, Kenya — Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has given the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) seven days to explain allegations of bribery and political interference in the recruitment of personnel.
Kalonzo said his party had received reports suggesting that recruitment into the three institutions had increasingly been influenced by political connections rather than merit.
The former Vice President linked his concerns to recent remarks by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who criticised allegations that some Members of Parliament demand money from desperate parents in exchange for TSC appointment letters.
Kalonzo accused President William Ruto’s administration of politicising recruitment and argued that the practice violated the principles of fairness and merit provided for under Article 232 of the Constitution.
“We have been getting information for months that recruitment into these institutions has stopped reflecting who we are as a country, and that where a job comes from now depends less on merit and more on who you know or who you voted for,” he stated.
“That is not how Article 232 of our Constitution was written, and it is certainly not how a republic is supposed to work.”
The Wiper leader questioned why qualified Kenyans were allegedly being denied employment opportunities while individuals with political connections were given preference.
“These institutions belong to Kenyans. They are not a basket of favours for Ruto’s regime to dish out to friends and reward loyalty,” he stated.
Kalonzo further challenged the government to explain allegations that political connections were being used to influence recruitment into the security and education sectors.
“If a young person in Kajiado, Makueni, or Taita Taveta is being locked out of a police or teaching job so that someone connected to State House can walk in instead, Ruto has some explaining to do, and whoever is behind this must be named.”
Kalonzo Threatens Legal Action
Kalonzo has directed his Members of Parliament and lawyers to write to the NPSC, TSC and KDF within 48 hours, seeking detailed explanations over the alleged irregularities in their recruitment processes.
He said the institutions would then have seven days to provide answers.
The opposition leader warned that failure to respond would prompt his team to seek court intervention and compel the institutions to disclose the information.
“If they choose silence instead of answers, we will go to court and ask a judge to compel them to disclose what they are hiding. I say this plainly: it is not a threat,” he remarked.
Kalonzo said the move was intended to promote accountability and transparency in public institutions.
“It is what accountability looks like. Kenyans will get the truth about who is being hired into their institutions, and why, with or without State House’s cooperation.”
The allegations have not been independently established, and the three institutions have yet to publicly respond to Kalonzo’s demands.
