Local Government Workers Union has petitioned the government to come up with punitive measures against council officials involved in corrupt deals.

The Union’s Western Region secretary Juvenalis Orao said transfer of officials involved in corruption without punishment has led to corruption in local authorities.

“Transfer of corrupt officers in respect of the clerk or the treasurer without discipline has messed up local authorities due to little support from the government hence encouraging corruption,” he said.

Speaking during the election of Busia County Interim officials at the Busia County hall, Orao expressed concern that despite the council workers collecting a lot of revenue they have not been paid their arrears on time.

“Corrupt officers at this institution have forced the council workers to opt to alternative survival means which are not good despite working hard in the field to collect revenue,” he said.

Orao also said that vested interests by various civic leaders in tenders at the local authorities were also a serious challenge to delivery of the council activities especially when the Local Authority Transfer Fund is received from the government.

He however, urged key players in the Local Government ministry and the Anti-corruption bodies to ensure corrupt deals at the councils are rooted from the institutions.

“Corruption will only end if the government joins hands with the relevant bodies involved in the fight against the vice by acting officers found to be corrupt,” said the Union’s representative in Western region.

Also present was the National Chairlady of the Union Mary Murongoro who the new elected interim officials in Busia County will spearhead the union’s activities in the county among them fighting for the workers’ rights.

“The election of the officers is going on countrywide and they will work closely with the newly appointed County Commissioners under the devolved government structure,” she said.

The elected interim officials include Chairman Kizito Omoding (Teso County Council), Vice chairman Milton Maloba (Busia Municipal), Secretary Melisa Mung’ala (Port Victoria Town Council), assistant secretary Apollo Ingora (Malaba town council), treasurer Justin Magoba (Busia County Council), assistant treasurer Benedita Muka (Funyula town council), and Women representative Maryline Akhudu (Nambale town council).

Other officials include: the Busia County Council Chairman Charles Olemu and the Walatsi civic leader Jack Wambulwa.