Morale low as DOs fear losing jobs

• Some officials desert offices, leading to poor service delivery

Most offices of district officers and chiefs in south Nyanza remained deserted as fear of losing jobs gripped the officers.

Although those in Migori, Nyatike and Uriri districts were in office, members of the public who sought the services of the provincial administrators were not served due to uncertainty.

Most of the administrators were in civilian clothes instead of the official uniform as they discussed their future.

“It is true that morale is low and that we are not in the right mood to work. The government is sending conflicting signals regarding our jobs and I feel we are going to be retrenched,” said a DO, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

There have been reports that the officers will be redeployed in accordance with the new Constitution. Other reports attributed to government officials are that only provincial and regional commissioners will be accommodated in the new set-up.

Some of the junior administrators told the Daily Nation that they had started applying for jobs in the private sector because “even working in the new counties may not be conducive for us”.

Attending to public

Only clerks and Administration Police officers were attending to the public in most offices of the chiefs and DOs yesterday due to the absence of the administrators.

Some chiefs accused the government of lying during the referendum campaigns that their jobs were safe.

“They only wanted us to campaign for the new Constitution,” a chief said in Migori Town.

Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno was quoted as saying that track records of the officers would be considered before reassignment.