Taita Taveta Public Service Board accused of nepotism

Members of two committees of the Taita Taveta County Assembly have accused the County Public Service Board of promoting favouritism and nepotism in its employment.

They also claimed that County Executive Committee CEC members are employing friends and relatives with impunity.

Yesterday Taita-Taveta County Public Service Board chairperson Tangai Ngoma was forced to withdraw remarks  alleging that  Members of the County Assembly are intimidating his board when he appeared before the Labour and Administration committees.

Two county assembly members on labour, manpower and administration were irked by the chairman’s remarks terming them uncalled for and disparaging.

The meeting was co-chaired by Werugha Ward Representative Jason Tuja and his Wumingu-Kishushe counterpart Levy Mwazala

The MCAs claimed most appointments are skewed in favour of certain areas adding that the board is not independent, an issue that Tangai denied vehemently.

PUBLIC OUTCRY

Mbale Ward Representative Raymond Mwangola told the board that there is a lot of public outcry on the appointment of county staff with allegations of cronyism.

Nominated County Representative Mary Mngola claimed that the board was taking orders from the executive and Members of Parliament to recruit county staff.

“The board is not independent as it has always been taking instructions from the executive and politicians to recruit county staff,” she complained.

The MCAs complained that the criteria used to employ CEC personal assistants was wrong because the law was not followed.

“The salaries and allowances of personal assistants are paid from public funds and their positions should have been advertised so as to be competitive. Some of the CECs have appointed their sons and daughters to take these positions,” claimed Roselyn Mshambala.

 “We have gathered evidence how the recruitment is being done and things are not right. We want the board to clarify allegations of nepotism in the recruitment process,” said nominated county representative Rozina Kisocho.

Kisocho and fellow nominated MCAs who represent people living with disabilities claimed that their members have been left out in the county government.

Another nominated MCA, Hope Mwakio demanded to know why the Muslim community has been left out of the recruitment process

INDEPENDENT BOARD

Tangai and secretary to the Board Elipida Mwakamba  defended the board from blame saying the recruitment process is guided by law.

“We are committed to an all-inclusive process of recruitment and appointment. We are an independent body and we work side by side with the executive. We make appointments on professionalism and merit,” Tangai told the MCAs.

Mwakamba disclosed that the county has a total of 1,039 workers. Out of these over 59 per cent are locals while 40 per cent are from the diaspora. She said 30 per cent of the employment rule had been surpassed by the county administration.

Tangai and his board turned up for grilling to account for the funds allocated to the board and recruitment progress of county staff.

The officials told the two committees at the County Assembly chambers in Wundanyi town that political interference has slowed down the board’s mandate.

“We feel intimidated when we are called to the county assembly to present our progressive report. We are also not comfortable with the presence of members of the Press. The committees should have written questions and forwarded them to us before hand instead of creating suspicion that things are not as they should be at the board,” Tangai said.