The County Assembly of Nandi on Tuesday summoned the County’s top officials from the County public service board, Health and finance departments over the termination of County health workers contracts. MCAs demanded answers from the officials over the irregular dismissal of 381 contracted support staff stationed at different health facilities who included cleaners, clerks and guards.
Health CEC Ruth Koech, while responding to the issue, distanced herself from the dismissals, saying she isn’t mandated by the law to hire or dismiss, her work is purely coordination and administration and she was not notified on the action taken by the public service board. On his part, Finance CEC Alfred Lagat told MCAS that the decision to terminate contracts was arrived at after claims of irregularities which marred the recruitment exercise.
He also clarified that the County is experiencing huge wage bill burdens, saying it left them with no choice but to lay off the staff. The assembly has directed the County public service board to lift the dismissal due to the pending court case until further notice, faulting it for disregarding the laid down constitutional rights of the support staff.