Isaac Ruto strikes authority staff off county payroll

A union has moved to court seeking to stop governors from removing names of former local authority workers from the payroll.

Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) is up in arms against what it terms as discrimination of workers, disrespect for the rule of law and impunity on the part of governors.

Secretary General Roba Duba said they would not allow a section of governors to fight workers in some counties.

This follows an ultimatum given by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto that former local authority staff should reapply for their jobs or be removed from the payroll.

Mr Duba claimed that some governors had shown discrimination towards former local authority staff, and impunity to the rule of law.

"The union will use the law and all the legal means at its disposal to ensure sober industrial relations in the counties are maintained," said Duba.

The union is in court seeking orders to bar the governor from expunging the names of the former local authority's employees.

Court orders

"On August 10, the court ordered the county government not to terminate employment of the said employees without following the law and their terms and conditions of service," he said.

He said it was unfortunate that the county removed former local authority staff from the payroll in total disregard of a court injunction, which was extended by orders on September 25 and November 24, 2015.

Duba who is also the Moyale MP said it was for that reason that Justice Njagi Marete of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kericho had summoned the governor, county secretary, secretary of the county Public Service Board, and payroll manager to appear before him on December 16.

He said they should show cause why the governor and the officers should not be committed to civil jail for blatantly failing to comply with court orders. He further applauded courts for their independence.

On Friday, the Labour court ordered for the full employment of people who had been unlawfully placed on temporary employment for years.