A top government official, John Burugu, has come out strongly to refute claims that he is holding two public service positions simultaneously.
Burugu, who has been serving as the acting Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, is now pointing fingers at Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok who previously served in the immigration docket.
He accuses the PS of deliberately withholding his official appointment letter—despite having been appointed by the Public Service Commission after competitive interview in July 2024. This was to regularize the acting appointment earlier made by the then Interior Cabinet Secretary and current Deputy President, H.E Prof. Kithure Kindiki.
According to Burugu, the refusal to issue his appointment letter was not in good faith. He claims that after a competitive recruitment process, he emerged as the top candidate for the Commissioner of Refugees Affairs position.
“I attended the interview, performed best, and was declared the successful candidate. However, to date, I have never received my appointment letter,” said Burugu.
He clarified that during his tenure as acting Commissioner of Refugees, he never received a salary from that office. Instead, he continued drawing his salary from the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), where he was initially appointed.
“I am ready to be surcharged if need be. But the truth is, I have not received a single coin from the Refugees office. I have only been in one Government payroll. My salary has consistently come from IGRTC,” he emphasized.
Burugu further explained the over one year delay by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to give concurrence for Cabinet Secretary acting appointment, contributed to the current confusion. According to him, PSC advertised the Refugee Affairs post in January 2024, with applications closing on February 13, 2024. He was later invited for an interview scheduled for June 25, 2024—but it was postponed due to the Gen Z protests and eventually held on July 2, 2024.
“Following that interview, I was officially appointed. A letter was dispatched to the PS for State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services for onward delivery to me—but I never received it,” Burugu revealed.
Despite his successful appointment, Burugu says PSC, through its CEO, later announced through an advertisement on March 15, 2025, that the position of Secretary for Refugee Affairs (Job No. 3/2024 – CSG 4) had been cancelled. This move has sparked a legal battle.
“A human rights organization has already filed a case in court, protesting the cancellation. They are seeking an injunction to prevent any attempts to re-advertise or fill the position in any manner, including on an acting basis, until the matter is resolved in court,” I am instructed by the PS for Immigration Dr. Kipsang Belio through a letter to handover to an officer from Interior Ministry who is taking over in an acting capacity still. Though I am not the one who is in Court, the ignorance and refusal to respect Court Order issued on the position I have been holding tells you the story of forces now peddling falsehoods to taint my integrity in public service. Burugu observed.
This unfolding drama comes even as Burugu has been directed to vacate the Refugees office and resume his duties at IGRTC.
