Nakuru residents hold demos, demand sacking of senior officers

A section of Nakuru county residents demonstrating outside Governor Kinuthia Mbugua's office on July 14, 2016. They were protesting the continued stay in office of senior officers recommended for sacking by a report. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The demonstrators had earlier marched along the streets in the town before converging at the county government headquarters to press for the sacking of those mentioned in the report adopted by the county Assembly two weeks ago.
  • Governor Kinuthia Mbugua is on the spot for failing to implement the assembly’s report which recommended the immediate sacking of County Secretary Mr Joseph Motari and Public Service Management Chief Officer Philip Sigei accused of abuse of office and irregular staff hiring.

Nakuru residents on Thursday demonstrated outside the County government offices protesting the continued stay in office of senior officers recommended for sacking by a report.

The demonstrators had earlier marched along the streets in the town before converging at the county government headquarters to press for the sacking of those mentioned in the report adopted by the county Assembly two weeks ago.

Governor Kinuthia Mbugua is on the spot for failing to implement the assembly’s report which recommended the immediate sacking of County Secretary Mr Joseph Motari and Public Service Management Chief Officer Philip Sigei accused of abuse of office and irregular staff hiring.

The special committee was formed three months ago to look into the irregular hiring of deputy sub-county administrators and ward administrators, among other staff.

The team concluded in its report that there existed an organized staff recruitment syndicate which was controlled by four senior county officers, with the two being the chief architects.

The committee reported that the county government has to date lost approximately Sh261 million through the irregular staff hiring.

Mr Motari and Mr Sigeri have, however, through proxies, moved to court to block implementation of the report.
The demonstrations were organized by the Nakuru People’s Accountability Forum.

However, the High Court in Nakuru has restrained Mr Mbugua from implementing the County Assembly report that recommends the sacking of the two senior county government officials.

Justice Stephen Radido issued the orders which served as reprieve to Governor Mbugua, who has for the one week been under pressure from a section of local leaders and residents to implement the report.

The County Assembly on June 29, adopted a report by a special House committee which was appointed to look into the alleged illegal hiring of county staff.

The committee recommended the immediate sacking of county secretary Joseph Motari and Public Service Management Chief Officer Mr Philip Sigei.