NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Economist David Ndii has offered to refund nearly Sh127 million in salary and consultancy fees following a court ruling related to public service appointments.
In a tweet on X, Ndii clarified that the court did not question President William Ruto’s authority to create and staff positions but rather found that the Public Service Commission (PSC) failed to perform its duties properly.
“My friend, court has not challenged President’s authority to create and staff positions, it ruled that PSC did not do its job. Happy to refund salary and invoice consultancy fees for the 3 yrs worked ~ 650 days @ 1500/day (my World Bank rate). That will be $975k (Sh127m). Deal?” Ndii tweeted.
Last week, the High Court directed the PSC to conduct a comprehensive 90-day audit of all offices established under the Executive Office of the President, with particular focus on offices of Advisors to the President created since August 2022.
The court ruling comes amid concerns that several offices may have been created without proper constitutional or legal backing.
Ndii’s statement comes after public scrutiny over his consultancy role and compensation in government projects. He indicated that his fee was based on his international consultancy rate, which he describes as his “World Bank rate.”
Legal experts note that the ruling highlights oversight gaps in public appointments but does not directly implicate the President in any wrongdoing. Ndii’s offer to refund payments appears to be an attempt to maintain transparency and address public concerns.
The Public Service Commission has yet to comment on the matter, while political observers say this case underscores the importance of robust checks and accountability in government appointments.
