Hunt for next CBK chief begins

What you need to know:

  • PSC will also be scouting for the banking regulator’s chairman from a list of four shortlisted candidates. Successful applicants for both positions will serve a maximum of eight years of two equal terms.
  • Those to be interviewed for the governor’s post include the current deputy governor, Mr Haron Sirma. Others on the shortlist are Mr Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, former CBK deputy governor Edward Sambili, Dr Peninah Wanjira Kariuki and current National Treasury Economic Secretary Geoffrey Ngungi Mwau.
  • Candidates for the chairman’s post include current acting Chairman Mbui Wagacha and Dr Benson Akong’o Ateng’.

Interviews for the next Central Bank of Kenya governor begin Tuesday, with the Public Service Commission facing the task of picking the next candidate for the influential position.
It will be the first time that the commission is conducting the search for Prof Njuguna Ndung'u’s successor. He was at the helm of the regulator for seven years.

It is expected that the country will know the next governor by May.

PSC will also be scouting for the banking regulator’s chairman from a list of four shortlisted candidates. Successful applicants for both positions will serve a maximum of eight years of two equal terms.
The deputy governor’s position was, however, re-advertised last month after the commission revised the rules, banning public servants, bankers and elected leaders from vying for the position, thus locking out 42 candidates who had expressed interest.

Applications for the deputy governor’s post are expected to be out on Thursday after the initial list was dismissed for lack of qualifications by the candidates.

“The position of deputy governor did not attract adequate applicants and has, therefore, been re-advertised,” PSC said and set April 9 as the deadline for applications.

ON THE LIST

Those to be interviewed for the governor’s post include the current deputy governor, Mr Haron Sirma. Others on the shortlist are Mr Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, former CBK deputy governor Edward Sambili, Dr Peninah Wanjira Kariuki and current National Treasury Economic Secretary Geoffrey Ngungi Mwau.

The panel will then pick three best candidates for the job after the interviews and forward the names to the President who will recommend only one to the National Assembly for approval as next governor.

The race had attracted 22 candidates, including Dr Rose Wanjiru Ngugi, who works at IMF as an adviser on policy, Dr John Hongo Randa, a senior economist at the World Bank’s Nairobi office and Dr Chris Kiptoo, the Kenya country director of TradeMark East Africa, among others.

Candidates for the chairman’s post include current acting Chairman Mbui Wagacha and Dr Benson Akong’o Ateng’.

Others are Mr Nicholas Bartuiyot, who is a director at Kenya School of Monetary Studies and lawyer Jairus Mohammed Nyaoga.