By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, January 21 2026 - President William Ruto has picked long-serving public administrator Francis Meja to take over the leadership of the Public Service Commission (PSC), setting the stage for parliamentary vetting in the coming days.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei, the President confirmed that Mr Meja has been nominated for appointment as PSC chairperson in line with constitutional provisions on State appointments. The nomination has already been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
“His Excellency the President has today nominated Mr Francis Meja for appointment as the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission,” the statement said.
Mr Meja is not new to the commission. He has been serving as a member of the PSC since January 2025, a role that has placed him at the heart of decisions affecting recruitment, discipline and overall management of the public service. If approved, he would assume leadership of one of Kenya’s most influential constitutional commissions at a time when efficiency and accountability in government remain under sharp public focus.
The nominee brings with him a long public service record. He is best known as the founding Director-General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), where he oversaw the establishment of the agency and the early rollout of transport safety reforms. He has also served as Registrar of Motor Vehicles in the Ministry of Transport and as a council member of Murang’a University of Technology.
Beyond government, Mr Meja has spent more than 15 years in banking and financial services, holding senior management positions at institutions including Equity Bank Kenya PLC and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya (HFCK). He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi.
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His nomination follows the departure of Ambassador Anthony Muchiri, who completed his term as PSC chairperson in late 2025 before being appointed Kenya’s envoy to Turkey.
While his tenure at NTSA drew both praise and criticism—particularly over contested driver training and testing reforms—Mr Meja’s supporters point to his blend of public sector experience and private sector management as key strengths.
Parliament will now take over the process. The National Assembly is expected to refer the nomination to the relevant departmental committee, which will conduct a public vetting to assess Mr Meja’s qualifications, experience and integrity. The committee’s report will then be debated by MPs before a final vote, after which the decision will be communicated to the President for formal appointment.
