The Nandi County Government on Wednesday night fired over 1,200 employees in what was described as the effects of the April Jubilee Party primaries that saw Governor Cleophas Lagat defeated by Nandi Senator Stephen Sang.
County Secretary Francis Ominde directed the county administration to release the staff on grounds that they were illegally appointed as he was not consulted.
Mr Ominde, in a memo, ordered for the immediate cancelling of the appointment of 1,200 employees mentioning that it did not follow the correct procedures as the board had no power to employ since its only role was to act as a recruitment agency on behalf of the county government.
"Appointments made by the board for the county public service are hereby rendered ineffective for the reason that they are illegal and unprocedural," Ominde's statement read in part.
Employees affected by the order include 800 early childhood development (ECD) teachers, 300 health workers, county drivers, and the governor's protocol and communication officers, revenue officers and a host of workers appointed on contractual basis.
The shocked workers on their part stated that the supremacy battles between the Public Service Board and the office of the county secretary were to blame for their sacking.
They explained that the operations at the county had not been the same since Governor Lagat was majorly accused of abusing his office after losing the nominations.
"The administration seems to be losing control despite the fact that the governor is still serving his term until after the August vote. We are suffering in silence under officers who are abusing their offices," an employee stated.
The workers also took a swipe at Mr Ominde stating that he was trying to manipulate the board to have them fired so that he can have his preferred people employed citing the fact that they were not given any notice before being dismissed.
"Somebody cannot just wake up one day and decide to fire government employees without notice," another employee lamented.
