Court halts biometric registration in six counties
Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga seated is joined by devolution and planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru. Ms Odinga has apologised to Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu and her Defence counterpart Raychelle Omamo who were jeered recently. PHOTO | JACOB OWITI |
An Industrial Court judge on Wednesday stopped the biometric registration of county government workers in six counties in western Kenya.
Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa issued orders temporarily stopping the drive, which had been under way since August 22 in Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Trans Nzoia and Migori counties, following a case filed by the Kenya County Government Workers’ Union.
Sitting in Kisumu, Justice Wasilwa granted two of seven requests made by lawyer Geoffrey Yogo, who represented the union.
The six counties, their public service boards, the Ministry of Devolution and Planning and the Attorney-General are listed as the respondents in the case.
MANDATE OF COUNTY SERVICE BOARDS
Mr Yogo told the court that the biometric registration initiative was a nullity because issues of county government staff are the mandate of the counties’ public service boards and not the committees tasked with public service rationalisation and capturing of staff biometrics.
“The committees are in breach of Article 41(2), (4), and (5) of the Constitution and the County Government Act 2012 as it takes over the mandate of the County Public Service Boards and hence will infringe on the rights of the workers and staff of the county governments,” the lawyer said.
The judge certified the matter urgent and ordered that all the parties in the case appear for a hearing on Monday next week.
