The Public Service Commission has once again invited applications from qualified Kenyans for the position of Data Commissioner. This is after the first recruitment process was marred with controversy. This announcement is to give effect to the Data Protection Law, signed by President Kenyatta in November 2019. The law gave effect to Article 31 (c) and (d) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 which guarantees every person the right to privacy.
The position will be a six-year non-renewable term. For an appointment to this position, a candidate must hold a degree from a university recognized in Kenya in any areas of Data Science, Law, Information Technology, or any other related field. Interested candidates should also hold a master’s degree, have the knowledge and relevant and relevant experience of not less than ten years and meet the requirements of Chapter six of the Constitution.
The PSC had earlier advertised for the position of Data Commissioner on 25 March 2020. After this, the commission announced the shortlist for the candidates for the position of Data Commissioner, in compliance with the provision of section 6(2) of the Data Protection Act,2019. They had announced that they received 206 applications and slotted the interviews for shortlisted candidates 7th July 2020.
The interview process was however stopped by the labour court. Justice Hellen Wasilwa put on hold the interviews following an application by a lawyer Adrian Kamotho. Mr Kamotho, who claimed that the recruitment process was irregular for breaching timeliness and mandatory procedures. The judge also allowed the Mr Kamotho to file a judicial review application seeking to nullify list of applicants and shortlisted candidates for the position of Data Commissioner as the process was defective and tainted with illegality.
The PSC then cancelled the recruitment process, a decision that was reached after signing an out-of-court deal with lawyer, Adrian Kamotho. In the consent filed before Employment and Labour Relations Court, PSC and lawyer Adrian Kamotho agreed that the commission would start the process afresh ‘in accordance with the law.
All applications should reach the Public Service Commission on or before 8th September 2020 latest by 5.00 p.m. There is the call for application.