Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC),George Muragara, has emphasized that Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) are not permitted to report directly to Parliament.
Muragara clarified on Tuesday, March 19, that CASs, distinct from state officers like Cabinet Secretaries, owe their existence to parliamentary creation rather than appointment by the Public Service Commission.
“They are not state officers since you can not create a state office unless you amend the constitution,”Muragara underscored.
Consequently, the obligation to report to Parliament, upon summons, falls solely upon Cabinet Secretaries and cannot be delegated to CASs.
Further elucidating the hierarchical structure, Muragara outlined that CASs rank third within ministries, with Principal Secretaries serving as the immediate deputies to Cabinet Secretaries.
The role of CASs is defined as providing support to Cabinet Secretaries, executing tasks assigned by them. Notably, the appointment process for CASs, initially challenged in court for alleged unconstitutionality, has been endorsed by Parliament, lifting the previous cap of 22 CASs to accommodate the President’s discretion.
Beatrice Elachi, Member of Parliament for Dagorretti North, echoed concerns about the potential dilution of roles with an excess of CAS appointments, drawing from her experience as a former CAS. Elachi emphasized the efficiency of a one-to-one relationship between CASs and Cabinet Secretaries during her tenure.
Despite parliamentary approval, presidential action to appoint individuals to CAS positions is pending, leaving the matter unresolved.
