The Office of the Attorney-General is under fresh scrutiny following reports that a Public Service Commission (PSC) audit uncovered multiple irregularities in its recruitment process, including the alleged hiring of individuals who never applied for advertised positions.
According to constitutional lawyer and governance advocate Willis Evans Otieno, the audit further found that some successful applicants did not meet the minimum qualifications required for the jobs, raising concerns over compliance with merit-based hiring principles in public service.
"The office entrusted with defending the rule of law cannot afford to make a mockery of it," Otieno said.
He argued that the findings are particularly troubling because the Attorney-General's office is mandated to uphold the Constitution and advise the government on legal matters.
"A PSC audit reportedly found that the Attorney-General's office hired individuals who never applied for the advertised positions, while others allegedly lacked the minimum qualifications. It also identified multiple irregularities in the recruitment process," he said.
Otieno called for immediate action, saying public confidence in government institutions depends on transparency and accountability in recruitment.
"Kenyans deserve transparent, merit-based hiring," he stated, adding that "those responsible for any unlawful recruitment should be held personally accountable, and every irregular appointment should be reviewed without delay."
The reported audit findings are expected to fuel debate over integrity and fairness in public sector recruitment, with governance advocates warning that failure to address alleged irregularities could further erode public trust in institutions charged with defending the rule of law.
The Office of the Attorney-General had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
