Nakuru County accused of hiring high school students
The Nakuru County Assembly during a past session. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Some of the 30 officers might have been high school students who never applied for the jobs.
- Documents indicate that Sh17.2 million was allocated for the recruitment of 100 enforcement officers.
- However, the board issued appointment letters to 130 enforcement officers.
The embattled Nakuru County Public Service Board is on the spot once again after shocking revelations that it recruited high school students as enforcement officers.
The board is being investigated over illegal recruitment of 30 enforcement officers.
According to the Nakuru County Assembly, some of the 30 officers might have been high school students who never applied for the jobs and were "hired" while still in school.
The assembly says the 30 officers who were irregularly hired were not factored in the 2016/2017 budget.
Documents available at the assembly indicate that Sh17.2 million was allocated for the recruitment of 100 enforcement officers.
However, the board issued appointment letters to 130 enforcement officers.
OFFICIALS SUMMONED
A county assembly committee chaired by Gilgil Ward MCA Jane Ngugi had summoned board chairman Waithaji Mutiti, Secretary James Mbugua and board executive Margaret Kitetu to explain the anomalies.
The jobs were advertised in local dailies in 2014 but the hiring took place in 2016 and letters were issued in January 2017.
In a stormy debate at a meeting of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, Subukia MCA Mwangi Waithaka said it was improper for the board to recruit high school students when there were many other qualified candidates.
RECRUITMENT A SHAM
“This recruitment is a big sham as some of the successful candidates in the list tabled by the board were actually in high school and never applied for the positions,” said Mr Mwangi.
However, Dr Waititi denied the claims, saying due process was followed in recruiting the officers.
At one stage, the meeting was thrown into disarray when it was reduced into a shouting match and name-calling.
Committee vice-chairperson Emma Wambui Mbugua and Free Area MCA Humphrey Mwaniki exchanged abusive words when the latter claimed the enforcement jobs were not meant for disabled people.
Ms Mbugua, who represents disabled people in the assembly, accused the board of discriminating against them during recruitment.
“I am not a flower girl in this assembly and the disabled are also members of this county and deserve respect and equal job opportunities like any other able persons,” she said.
