Newly-elected governors who are laying off County employees have been warned against further mass firing as this could prompt legal action against them.
Acting Chairperson in the Office of the Ombudsman, Dr Regina Mwatha, cautioned the governors against what was described as a clean up exercise as it could potentially lead to their removal from office.
“What the governors are doing amounts to an abuse of office as per Article 59 and Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity,” she elucidated.
Ms Mwatha added that the drastic actions by the governors contravened the Commission on Administrative Act which had numerous consequences, among them impeachment.
“For which action can be taken against the Governors, including their removal from office," Mwatha explained.
She advised all governors to carry out an elaborate human resource and financial audit before they take any action on the county staff.
The Ombudsman further asked the County bosses to revert their earlier decisions to fire the county staff and wait for the full process on retrenchment to take place.
This would protect the County governments from accruing huge legal bills from unnecessary legal issues.
She also called out governors who had fired county workers who did not support their re-election bid
“No county worker should be kicked out for not supporting a governor's re-election bid as they are public servants and are not supposed to get involved in politics,” she stated.
On Tuesday, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko ordered the immediate suspension of the County's Chief Cashier following a raid of the county offices last week.
Read Also: Sonko Sends Home County Official Found With Sh7 Million
Earlier on, Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui sent top county officials on compulsory leave in what he termed as a move to change the current state of affairs.
Among those sent home include the Director of Finance Wilson Mungai, Director of Procurement Eliezar Ngarari, Head of Enforcement Joseph Kiara, Deputy Head of Enforcement Charles Nyanaro and the Head of Accounts Dan Odundo.
In addition, Kinyanjui also sent all sub-county and ward administrators and their deputies home.
Read Also: Top County Officials Fired
Governors who have suspended staff include Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) and Cornel Rasanga (Siaya).
