How public recruitment works

The stages

Public recruitment in Kenya follows a formal sequence designed to be defensible: anyone who was not shortlisted or appointed should be able to see why. The stages are broadly the same at national ministries, county governments, commissions, parastatals and public universities, though the bodies and timelines differ.

1. Advertisement. A notice with the title, grade, number of posts, duties, requirements, the documents to submit, how to apply and the closing date. It appears on the body's website, usually on the government advertising portal, and often in the daily newspapers.
2. Receipt and registration. Applications are logged. Late or incomplete ones are set aside.
3. Shortlisting. A committee checks each application against the stated requirements, often with a grid. Those who meet every mandatory requirement are shortlisted; the rest are not, regardless of other strengths.
4. Publication of the shortlist. Names of shortlisted candidates are published, usually on the website and sometimes in the newspapers, with interview dates and the documents to bring. You may be given a week's notice or less.
5. Interview. A panel, often five to nine people, with a scoring sheet. Some roles add a written or practical test.
6. Appointment. Successful candidates receive an offer or appointment letter; some bodies also publish the names.

Expect the whole sequence to take months. Silence after applying is normal, not a rejection.

What "mechanical shortlisting" means for you

Because the committee works from the notice, your application must show every requirement explicitly, in the words of the notice, with the evidence attached where asked. A degree "in a relevant field" is judged by the committee; a degree "in Commerce, Economics or Finance" means those fields, and a related degree may be rejected. Years of experience are counted from the dates on your CV and certificates. If a requirement is a professional registration, the certificate must be attached.

Documents

Public notices typically ask for: an application letter, a CV, copies of academic and professional certificates, a copy of your national ID, and sometimes testimonials and a filled application form. Shortlisted candidates are then usually asked to bring originals and the Chapter Six clearances (next lesson). Read the notice twice and make a list; the checklist tool on each KaziMatch application does this for you.

Grades and scales

Public roles are advertised at a job group or grade with a published salary scale and allowances. Your pay is set by the scale, not negotiated; what may be negotiable is the entry point within the scale, based on your experience. Understand the grade before you apply and before the interview.

Where to look

The lesson on public-sector openings in the "Where the jobs are" course lists the bodies and their channels. Start from the official notice every time.