The fear that had grabbed county casual staff in Kilifi County is now over.
This is after Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro reversed a directive by the Kilifi County Public Service Board to suspend all casual workers in the county.
Governor Mung’aro directed that no casual should be sacked until a comprehensive report is forwarded to him.
The Governor said he learned of the terminations of the casuals through social media and that services of all casual workers and volunteers in the county government had been terminated while his office and that of the county secretary were in darkness.
“At this very early opportunity, I wish to strongly condemn the actions of the Board which were in blatant disregard of the Constitution of Kenya, all known labor laws and a gross violation of basic human rights,” he said.
He said the existing county public service board not only lacked understanding of their mandate but was keen on introducing a culture of impunity and anarchy in the management of the affairs of Kilifi.
“The purported decision by the Board to arbitrarily and unilaterally discontinue the services of our casual workers and volunteers, most of whom have been working under very challenging conditions, smirks of malice and a calculated move to taint the image of my administration before the eyes of the people of Kilifi who overwhelmingly gave me this mandate as Governor,” he said.
Mung’aro said there have been cases of Ghost workers enlisted by a few unscrupulous individuals in the Kilifi county Government with the objective of pilfering county resources which was criminal.
He directed all casual workers and volunteers to resume their duties with immediate effect, as he plans to have a meeting with them at a date that shall be communicated later.
“We cannot afford a situation where critical County Government
services are paralyzed even for a day due to the evident incompetence of the County Public Service Board,” he said.
Mung’aro said his administration was committed to addressing the challenges faced by all our workers while at the same time
streamlining their public service in accordance with the provisions of Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya.
The Governor also announced that he had instituted a comprehensive audit of the entire workforce in the Kilifi County Government.
“While at it, I want to assure you all that due process will be followed, and stern legal action shall be taken against those found culpable for misappropriating public funds in the name of casual workers and volunteers,” he said.
Mung’aro who spoke in the presence of representatives o the casual workers said ruing camp[aigns he heard that there were thousands of casual workers but was surprised that only 900 had been suspended which to him was a plot to conceal the illegalities that were going on.
Some of the casual workers interviewed thanked the governor for his swift action and called upon him to ensure they get justice as some of them had worked for many years
Victor Kombe a sports Officer department of gender social services and sports who is working as a casual said they are happy that the governor had promised to address their issues.
he said many causals have worked for many years and have not got confirmation letters.
Caleb Otieno from the department of investigation in the county said they want justice because some have worked since 2013 and have not been employed.
Millicent Hayanga said confirmation of casual has been the major issue and expects the governor will address it.
