A number of census officials may stare at empty bank accounts while their compatriots celebrate rewards of a weeklong headcount as two petitioners sued Kenya Bureau of Standards (KNBS) for failing to elaborate on who should have applied for the census jobs, leaving it open to the general public including civil servants.
According to the Daily Nation on Friday, September 7, the two also sued KNBS Director-General, Zachary Mwangi, the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, and the Attorney General Paul Kihara.
The two petitioners Michael Kojo and Evance Otieno argued in an affidavit that KNBS should not pay civil servants.
The two further argued that public servants are already earning a government salary.
They also stated that taxpayers need to be protected from workers who want to earn twice.
“The law is clear that public servants who are in gainful employment should not engage in another gainful employment...,” the duo argued in the sworn letter.
The affidavit further states that KNBS failed to adhere to the principles of recruitment and to provide information as requested.
It also adds that the exercise was not subjected to public participation, contrary to the Constitution and Fair Administrative Action Act.
Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge, Maureen Onyango, had prior to the kick-off of the census exercise issued an order barring public servants in Homa Bay County from taking up the KNBS jobs.
The order followed an application contesting the list of those shortlisted to conduct the exercise.
