Residents of Hulugho subcounty in Garissa have protested the decision to relocate interviews for the recruitment of chiefs and assistant chiefs to Masalani subcounty. The interviews, initially scheduled for September 29, have been postponed due to the protest. Community leaders argue that the exercise should be conducted within Hulugho to give all candidates a fair chance. They cited impassable roads due to the ongoing rainy season and concerns over fairness, transparency, and possible political interference.
The protest was led by Dahir Duhul, an elder from Hadi location, who authored a formal protest letter addressed to Garissa county commissioner. The letter stated that applicants from Hulugho were being subjected to unnecessary logistical and financial hardships by being required to travel to another subcounty. Duhul said the decision had caused widespread concern among locals, who want the recruitment process conducted in a manner that guarantees equal opportunity to all qualified applicants.
The disputed interviews cover several administrative units, including Eretkeli and Dallahele sub-locations in Hadi location, Hareriderow sublocation in Boma location, Doi location in Hulugho division, and Mataarba location in Sangailu division. Residents argue that since the positions are intended to serve communities within Hulugho subcounty, the recruitment exercise should be conducted within the area, subject to suitable weather and road conditions.
Residents have also raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the relocation, with Duhul alleging that the decision was made without adequate consultation with affected communities. The community wants the authorities to investigate the circumstances under which the venue was changed and establish whether political interests or other improper considerations influenced the move.
The residents further warned against attempts to turn appointments to national government administrative positions into political rewards ahead of the 2027 general election. They maintain that the positions of chiefs and assistant chiefs should be filled through a transparent, impartial, and merit-based process, free from political patronage, favouritism, and corruption. While insisting that recruitment must adhere to public service procedures and the applicable laws, the community wants authorities to take into account the administrative boundaries and legitimate local circumstances of the areas concerned.
Duhul said residents were not seeking preferential treatment but equal consideration in a recruitment exercise that directly affects them. The residents have called for the interviews to be postponed pending an administrative review, with a fresh date and an accessible venue within Hulugho to be announced once conditions permit. They have also urged the authorities to guarantee that qualified applicants from the affected locations are given an equal opportunity to compete, without political interference or predetermined outcomes.
Copies of the protest letter were sent to Interior PS Raymond Omollo, North Eastern regional commissioner John Otieno, Public Service Commission chairperson, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and elected leaders representing the affected areas. The residents are demanding that the authorities take their concerns seriously and take action to address the issues raised.
Key points
- The residents of Hulugho subcounty are protesting the relocation of chief interviews to Masalani subcounty, citing logistical and financial hardships.
- The community wants the recruitment process to be conducted within Hulugho to ensure fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all qualified applicants.
- The residents have warned against attempts to turn appointments into political rewards ahead of the 2027 general election.
