The Public Service Commission (PSC) has published the names of 477 shortlisted from 9,154 applicants who had shown interest in the positions of Principal Secretaries.
However, the names of politicians who lost in the just concluded August 2022 general election have dominated the list.
They include a section of the poll losers and close allies of President William Ruto who are perhaps looking for a reward for the role they played in the head of state’s State House journey.
They include former Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir and his Kiminini counterpart Chris Wamalwa.
ODM’s Felix Oduor alias Jalang’o garnered 38, 948 votes while Mr Korir who was defending his seat for a second term on United Democratic Alliance (UDA) polled 36,836 votes.
Wamalwa who was eyeing the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial seat on Ford Kenya lost to Governor George Natembeya who vied on the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
Mr Natembeya received 158,919 votes, and his competitor Dr Wamalwa came in second with 79,020 votes.
Former Narok Governor Samuel Tunai who vied for the senatorial seat on UDA and lost to ODM’s Ledama Olekina has also been shortlisted.
Mr Tunai got 117, 869 votes against 135, 180 votes of Senator Olekina.
Former Wajir West MP Ahmed Kolosh and former Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa have also found their way into the list.
Former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Halakhe Waqo who vied for Isiolo gubernatorial seat on ODM and lost is also on the list as well as Francis Meja who lost during the UDA nominations for the Kajiado governor seat in April.
Other poll losers include Veska Kangogo and former Kericho Deputy Governor Lily Ngok.