Kenya’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has abruptly cancelled 86 government jobs, just weeks after inviting applications from the public, leaving many candidates unsure about what prompted the reversal.

In a notice published on Tuesday, 18 November, the Commission said the job postings had been reviewed and were being withdrawn with immediate effect.

“The following advertised posts are hereby cancelled,” the statement read, without offering further explanation.

The cancellations affect several senior roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including positions that had attracted significant public interest.

Key Foreign Service Posts Withdrawn

Among the scrapped vacancies were:

• Director of Foreign Service / Minister II (37 positions, CSG 5)

• Deputy Director of Foreign Service / Minister Counsellor (26 positions, CSG 6)

• Assistant Director of Foreign Service / Counsellor (23 positions, CSG 7)

The roles, advertised on 28 October, were part of a major recruitment drive meant to strengthen Kenya’s diplomatic corps. Applicants had been instructed to submit their applications online by 5 p.m. on 18 November.

The Commission had earlier directed prospective candidates to its website for full details, stressing that the recruitment would be conducted fairly and at no cost.

No Clear Reason — And No New Guidance

The PSC gave no reason for the sudden cancellation. Calls and emails to clarify the decision had not received responses by Tuesday afternoon.

The lack of explanation has raised questions among applicants and within public service circles. Recruitment experts say that such cancellations can stem from budgetary constraints, internal restructuring, or policy reviews — but none of these have been confirmed.

A Reminder of Fraud Risks

In its earlier announcement, the Commission also warned the public about individuals posing as PSC officials and soliciting bribes.

“Beware of fraudsters masquerading as Commission staff,” the notice said, adding that PSC does not charge any fees for applications, shortlisting, interviews or appointments.

Kenya has seen frequent alerts about recruitment scams, particularly involving public sector jobs, where desperate applicants are targeted by impostors promising employment.

PSC’s Mandate and the Bigger Picture

The Public Service Commission is central to Kenya’s human resource management across government. It has the legal authority to establish or abolish offices, advise on appointments and discipline, and promote ethical conduct across ministries and agencies.

Its power to withdraw advertised roles is well established under law, but abrupt cancellations tend to generate public concern — especially when they involve large numbers of positions in strategic ministries.

For now, the Commission has not indicated whether the roles will be re-advertised or replaced with a new recruitment structure.