Formality Interviews at Vihiga County - a personal case.

It is unfortunate when interests for who gets job arise within the county employees.

1. A sub-county Cultural Officer (posted August 11 2024)

I was dead sure I would get this job. So I am forced to think back, see the misses and the lies now that I was swept under. And to write for record purposes – my grandson would be interested in the dynamics of my fading youthhood.

With many missed job chances due to ‘competition’, I had assumed this was the time. A cultural enthusiast, academically tick. Passionate with community libraries. What would make me not perform as a cultural officer (to be more competitive I had been advised for “officer” and not a higher “assistant director” that I best fitted) in the Culture and Library Services Department, Vihiga County?

Jobs I have applied for National Government and missed out on shortlisting... save for the internship which I managed to work for Civil Registration department.

I lobby by informing the members of county assembly whom I am acquainted to. They reiterate I am indeed cultural in word and act. It is said they do pull strings. I visit cultural men and stakeholders and tell them of the impending opportunity. Others tell me I need to inform the governor himself on this; but why when I am the President for Young Cultural Champions IKDoDi programme? I can defend myself. 

I therefore wake up to the day of the interview, check my documents well and pay a few thousands to cyber guy who got me the infamous and expensive for nothing chapter 6 documents. They can drop you for flimsy reason those panels, prepare adequately.

Of the 14 listed for the day, four did not show up. 14 more had been interviewed prior. A total of 28 for 2 positions. We may have applied 200 or so? And 28 all good for 2 positions? Did someone on the queue say showing up gives you more experience with the interviewing panel? Yuck!

I enter the slaughterhouse. Four women sit. They follow a script – reading questions. It is a hurry game. When I was at the bench I never liked the time it took for one. Can’t it be just a short session? Yet questions are academic – name five indigenous trees and their significance. Artefacts? Cultural Practices? Acts? Libraries? Next…

I get very confident along, pointing to my dressing as cultural as discussed by council of elders whom I am a rapporteur to. This is one way of promoting culture and tourism locally – identifying cultural and county dresses, branding and creating value at traditional sites, advocacy for indigenous knowledge, documentation of it etc – things that I have been doing. I only get cut short from explaining more.

I cannot tell if they are motherly or nasty feminists. I submit to their flying tones with milds; “pardon”. How many panelists (by gender too) should be there for a public office interview? What if the four needed to vote? I am just saying, a small sub-county cultural officer opening cannot have retirees all gathering to interview starters - maybe. Not in a county where culture and tourism collects no shilling! 

The son of soil therefore bows at leave as he bowed at enter. Before that he apologizes for what happened at start. 

At start I had sat in a position the chairperson thought uncomfy for me. I have this habit of leaning forward while speaking to someone. When she refrained I was uncomfy I did a swirl and she reminded me to be serious, young man. So I apologized that it was my way of finding (showing?) comfort. They chuckled it was not an issue, I had not wronged.

Her tone of “this is a competitive exercise…” to me was like “your mere passion and education needs more to it”. What more but to have those who can pull strings pull for you? Closing the door behind me may have left us all chuckling: me to a best session it was and they to a ‘not what we are looking for!’. I did not tempt any with any monies as is the case from desperate job seekers.

I do not get a message of regret or emailed how I performed. You realize, after some silent ‘cook’ days, it was over and you serve as statistics in the larger working of capitalism. I become a mole and find out that the lady who came in late and last was given questions to prepare. That if you asked for interview performance reviews, you will be told you were beaten by a girl, boy.

All admitted cultural officers (they are 4 and not 2; someone using the chance to throw people in the system - who weren't even shortlisted for interview) are associated within, hardly acquainted with the said department. But they can learn at job, said a bipolar civil servant; can’t they? Or, if opportunities arise in county they can switch to their ‘trained areas’. Legal ghost workers. What is culture to them again? If not a paternalistic bandwagon that they now have opportunity to suffocate!

I get at ease after a disappointment that lasted only a day. I do not know why the satisfaction. That public service is crafty or here is a chance to rediscover myself and keep delving in my passions instead of needing to get involved where I am not needed? Or the empty realization that a stolen village drum must remain unbeaten. 

2. Ward Administrator (inserted June 18 2025)

I was not going to apply for this. It came a month or two after the Sub-County Cultural Officers had reported. There was a County Cultural Week that I needed to take an active role in. And there was this job to entice me with - If I do good I will be rewarded. Haha. 

We therefore step in (despite a denied Youths Budget) and maybe have a blast. The first ever Vihiga County Cultural Week 17th - 19th December 2024 happens. Participants including elders leave with lots of complaints and county employees exchange harshly. It puts pressure on the Chief Officer and she would later be interdicted (March 2025). 

When the Ward Admins were shortlisted on 12th March, only two were from Wodanga ward. I was one. The total list was 87. Vacancies to be filled 15. I received prior congratulatory texts from my friends and well wishers. After a few days I knew I was only lucky - not so qualified - when the shortlist was revised to include even more from Wodanga Ward (6). This was after complaints. And complaints would top on, making a third shortlist available a week to interviews.

I befriend even those I'd rather tender my goats than go see. I check on Member of County Assembly at his home. I am told they are very political. In my mind I still harbour the intrinsic unreal theory that "the best definitely wins."

27th March, a Thursday. I call dad and he prays for me on phone. A friend of mine, staunch catholic, texts to say God has gone before me. My privy to the questions there adds to my confidence. A white shirt and a black trouser remains the best clad in office, weddings, funerals - wherever. So I am shining. 

I am shining as I meet the Board of 5. This time round headed by the chair himself. His deputy on the right, a female. She is alone, only of the last 4 - and she wonders why I am there when I had gotten a job. What job? I did not get it. She therefore even assists me to tick her questions. Haha! Another goes, "my son, my son" while another "Address as you'd, a public baraza, Mr. Ward Admin!"

From there, head high, I would be treated to food and drinks for the evening by a friendship developed specifically for this job. She really wanted me to get this - maybe. And then I start the long wait of cookery. Interviews and qualifications fade and the lobbyists working day and night take up. Word goes the HE Governor (no. 1 in whispers) has a huge interest and so he will decide. I argue with a pal that that would be very low of him. 

After two months it happens. Same script. Private calls to "chosen" individuals. You hear it as you walk that X was picked, Y was whyied. Busali ward mobilises for demonstrators to protest. Why would the Ward receive an Admin from away? With what interests from the poster? My Wodanga is serene, it was not a must me, or competitively another, to win.

Another lesson well taken. I murmur, 'fuck'! Like to a bad lover, I drop my love for Vihiga County.