Imagine reporting to work only to find that you have been replaced. This was the case in Kakamega County after 700 security guards were shocked to find new replacements.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, June 22, one of the representatives questioned why the county government fired them without official communication.
Others lamented that they were replaced while returning to work after a Madaraka Day holiday break. The workers, who were contracted in 2018, appealed to Governor Fernandes Barasa to intervene in the situation.
"We were contracted in 2018 as security guards and were deployed to training programs. The county government did not issue certificates upon completion of the program but all of us were placed in different departments. We were, however, shocked to find new replacements."
"I appeal to the governor, kindly intervene on this situation and give us a way forward," one of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity stated.
Another worker was aggrieved that the county government owed them salary arrears for the contracted five years.
"In 2018, we worked for three months while on probation before absorption. In most cases, we experienced salary delays but kept persevering because of a lack of funds within county governments."
"Our concern is that the county government replaced us without any communication," he stated.
They urged the county government to either restore their jobs or deploy them to other areas. In a bid to prevent future occurrences, they appealed for permanent and pensionable jobs.
"We were replaced by another lot after reporting to work from holiday. We are qualified and implore the governor to intervene and either restore our jobs or deploy us to another area," another worker pointed out.
In January 2023, 80 employees from Nakuru County lamented after they were allegedly fired without notice during Christmas break.
The workers claimed that they were shocked to find new employees in their previous positions. They appealed to Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika to give them back their jobs.
On September 22, 2022, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO Twalib Mbarak warned governors against firing county workers without following any due procedure.
He advised governors to strictly apply the law while accounting for fair administrative action.
"The Commission advises that where any disciplinary process is envisaged against existing county staff, the same must be carried out strictly in compliance with, and adherence to existing policies, procedures and the law."
"This should be done with due regard to fair administrative action and legitimate expectation by the affected member of staff," he stated.
