By The Weekly Vision Team
The State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) has cancelled plans to replace former boss Fazul Mahamedat at the Private Security Regulatory Authority’s (PSRA) following reports that the process had not been authorised by a full PSRA board resolution. Controversy rocked the recruitment process for the new boss, with a section of members of the PSRA Board claiming there were blatant gross violations of the recruitment procedures and regulations, with Acting Director General Philip Leakey Okello still sitting on the interviewing panel and yet he is an applicant for the same position.
A letter by SCAC Secretary Simon M. Indumuli addressed to Nyanga, the chairman of the PSRA Board, dated August 26, 2024, drew the attention of the chairman to the legal implications of carrying out the recruitment process of the CEO without the express resolution and approval of a full board meeting. Mr Indimuli was responding to complaints by Baljit Sokhi and Pius Chelimo, duly appointed members of PSRA, who claim that they have never been invited to any board meeting.
It has now emerged that the decision to advertise a vacancy in the CEO’s position and the subsequent shortlisting and interviews of the applicants was never deliberated and approved by a full PSRA Boarding meeting and resolution as required by the law. The announcement inviting qualified candidates to apply for the CEO’s position was published on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, through the MyGov publication.
According to the notice, the new CEO was to serve on a three-year term contract, subject to renewal based on performance evaluations. Interested individuals meeting the outlined requirements were required to submit their applications before July 31, 2024. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO wields authority over the overall leadership and administration of PSRA’s operations. This includes crucial tasks such as budget allocation, strategic planning, and team management.
In the letter, Mr. Indimuli warned PSRA board chairperson Andieli that “advertising for the position of the CEO, which was sanctioned by a board in which the duo (Mr. Baljit Sokhi and Mr. Pius Chelimo) did not participate and therefore not well represented, may attract legal consequences.” The SCAC Secretary further took a swipe at Adiel’s failure to acknowledge or respond to enquiries made by the two directors on their appointment as members of the Board of PSRA.
It is worth noting that Sokhi and Chelimo were gazetted by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior as PSRA Board members with effect from September 24, 2023. However, the two were locked out of a board meeting convened on April 5, 2024, without explanation from then CEO Fazul. The cancellation of the CEO recruitment exercise means PSRA could operate without a substantive CEO and Chairman.
