Ruto appoints Francis Meja as PSC chairperson for six-year term

President William Ruto has formally appointed Francis Meja as the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a six-year term.

The appointment, dated February 27, 2026, was made under the powers of Article 250(2) of the Constitution and in line with the procedures set out in the First Schedule of the Public Service Commission Act (Cap. 185).

Meja is a seasoned Kenyan public servant and administrator with a long career in both the public and private sectors. 

He previously served as the Director‑General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), where he oversaw significant reforms including the automation of service delivery and the rollout of the Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS). 

Meja also held roles such as Registrar of Motor Vehicles in the Ministry of Transport and financial sector positions at institutions including Equity Bank Kenya PLC and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya.

He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi. 

Meja was first nominated by William Samoei Ruto in January 2026 as Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, and his name was forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting. 

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Labour vetted his nomination before MPs approved his appointment on February 25, 2026 under Article 233 of the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. 

Meja has also been a member of the PSC since January 2025, following his earlier nomination and parliamentary approval to that position. 

He succeeds Ambassador Anthony Muchiri.

In November 2023, he moved into the higher education space after then Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu appointed him to the Council of Murang’a University of Technology.

His three-year term began on November 10, 2023. The appointment was revoked in an official notice dated January 20, 2025, following his swearing-in as a member of the PSC.

His appointment comes at a time when the government is implementing wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving service delivery, efficiency, and accountability within Kenya’s public service, setting the stage for a more effective and citizen-focused civil service.

He is expected to spearhead key reforms within the Commission, including strengthening merit-based recruitment, enhancing performance management systems, and promoting transparency in public sector appointments. 

His leadership could also help streamline human resource processes across ministries, counties, and state agencies, ensuring that the public service aligns with the government’s broader vision of efficiency, integrity, and responsiveness to citizens’ needs.