The days of climbing the public service ladder through influential “godparents” or shortcuts are being challenged in Parliament.
A recent staff validation exercise, involving a headcount and document audit of parliamentary workers, has caused a stir in the media, with rumors hinting at widespread anxiety and looming job cuts. However, the leadership has quickly stepped in to calm the waters.
In a reassuring statement released on October 20th, 2026, on social media X, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth clarified that the exercise is not a witch hunt, but a positive step toward fairness.
“There is no panic. There’s bliss! It is not the interest of the new leadership of Parliament to see anyone lose a job. The nation should not overthink this. Everyone should take it easy and keep serving,” the Speaker noted.
Oboth added that to ensure the process is completely fair and transparent, the leadership requested help from the Head of Public Service, pointing out that the parliamentary service is, after all, a public institution that must answer to high standards.
The main goal of the audit is simple, restoring morale, integrity, and sanity.Over the years, issues like title inflation have blurred the lines of true professional growth. Therefore, the validation aims to fix this so that titles actually match qualifications.
The Speaker compared public service to an athletic event to emphasize this point.
“Think of public service as a race, Everyone should begin from the same starting line and run fairly to the finish. That is all this validation seeks to ensure,” Speaker Oboth explained.
According to the Speaker under this new vision, whether an employee joined the service recently or years ago, climbing to positions like “Principal” or “Director” must be backed by the right credentials and experience.
Sharing a personal story to inspire the staff, Oboth recalled rising through the ranks purely on merit, passing competitive interviews without any political backing.
“I had no godparent in public service; God was instead my parent. I know it is possible to grow,” he added.
He urged the parliamentary staff to ignore the rumors, stay calm, and focus on their daily work, knowing that a fairer system ultimately protects everyone who works hard.
