Kitui nominated MCA Deborah Kutungwa Mutuku during the September 23, 2026 afternoon’s plenary sitting. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
The Kitui County Assembly has ordered an inquiry into the recent recruitment exercise conducted by the Kitui County Public Service Board (KCPSB) following allegations of geographical imbalance, nepotism, favouritism, corruption and lack of transparency.
The probe follows a statement request by nominated MCA Deborah Kutungwa Mutuku during Wednesday afternoon’s plenary sitting, pursuant to Standing Order 41(2)(c).
Mutuku asked the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare to provide a detailed account of the recruitment process, including the positions advertised, number of applications received, candidates interviewed and those ultimately selected.
She further wants the committee to establish whether the recruitment exercise complied with constitutional and statutory requirements, particularly the principles of fairness, transparency and competitiveness.
A key focus of the inquiry will be the geographical distribution of successful candidates.
The committee has been asked to provide a breakdown showing the sub-counties and wards represented among those recruited, as well as outline measures taken by the Public Service Board to promote equitable representation of different communities, sub-counties and wards across Kitui County.
Mutuku also wants the committee to explain how and when interview and recruitment outcomes were communicated to successful and unsuccessful applicants.
The inquiry will further examine complaints, petitions, objections and appeals submitted by unsuccessful candidates, members of the public and other stakeholders concerning the recruitment process, including how such grievances were handled by the board.
Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya committed the statement to the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare and directed it to report back to the Assembly within 21 days.
Meanwhile, the Assembly also extended the timeline for the Committee on Health and Sanitation to respond to concerns over the exclusion of Kyangwithya East Ward from the distribution of county health and sanitation projects.
The issue was raised by Kyangwithya East MCA Boniface Maundu Katumbi, who had sought an explanation over the apparent exclusion of the ward from the projects.
The committee's Vice Chairperson, Godfrey Muthengi Ndagara, presented a response to the statement request, but the Assembly deemed the explanation unsatisfactory.
Members subsequently granted the committee an additional 21 days to invite the County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation and prepare a more detailed response on the matter.
