The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the ombudsman, has announced that a prison officer sacked over allegations of desertion has been successfully reinstated following its intervention.
In a statement dated April 24, the ombudsman stated that the prison officer had sought help from the commission after the Public Service Commission ignored his appeal for months.
"I am happy to inform you that I was reinstated to the service and posted to Homa Bay. Thank you." These were the words of Mr Edwin Ochengo Nyangau in an appreciation letter to the Commission," the statement read.
Reportedly, the officer had appealed his sacking to the PSC through the Commissioner General of Prisons, but he was only met with delayed updates and not much progress.
This was when he wrote to the commission seeking intervention in the matter.
"I have repeatedly visited the PSC to enquire about the status of my appeal, only to be informed that they are yet to receive the appeal letter from the Prisons Department headquarters, a process that has taken over four months," part of his complaint read.
"I believe justice is being delayed, and this violates my right to fair administrative action as guaranteed by the Constitution. I appeal to you to intervene, follow up on my case, or advise me on the next steps."
The commission then launched an inquiry into the matter by contacting the Commissioner General of Prisons, but it also received no response.
Thereafter, a first, second, and final reminder were sent, also receiving no replies, prompting CAJ to issue a notice to show cause under Sections 2 and 26 and Regulations 17 and 18 of the Commission on Administrative Justice Regulations.
The Commissioner General of Prisons finally responded, confirming that the prison officer had been reinstated and assigned to Homa Bay Prisons, a status verified by the facility's officer in charge.
This is not the first time the ombudsman has intervened in cases of ordinary Kenyans, including a few years ago when the commission contacted the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) on behalf of Kenyans who had sought its intervention.
In the April 22 notice, the ombudsman commended JSC for promptly acting and releasing a Teams recording of a court proceeding concerning the estate of a deceased Kenyan to the beneficiaries.
