Education CS Amina warns on rehiring of top staff at ministry

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has directed public universities, State corporations, boards and commissions under her ministry to stop rehiring retired employees.

Dr Amina, through a circular dated December 5, 2018, said the practice had led to wastage of public resources through payment of huge perks to retired chief executive officers and other top managers.

Describing some of the contract terms as roguish, the CS directed the affected agencies to first provide copies of the employment contracts and terms of service of senior staff who retired and later opted to continue working.

Amina said some agencies and public universities had entered into employment contracts with CEOs, vice-chancellors and other top managers that were outside the legal framework.

“These contracts contain clauses that are irregular. Such clauses commit public resources by ensuring employees retain perks long after they have completed their terms.

“These contracts have in some instances resulted in post-contract litigation, leading to further waste of public resources in protracted legal battles," she said.

The circular was copied to public universities, the ministry's PS for Basic Education, post-training and department of technical vocational education and training institutions, chairpersons of university councils, boards and commissions.

It was also sent to CEOs of State corporations in the Education ministry.

The CS said a contracts given to a vice-chancellor who had been retained in his institution but in a different capacity stipulated that he earned a basic salary as paid in the last month of work, as well as myriad perks.

Amina said the institution was flouting instructions issued by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, who had provided clear guidance in a circular Ref. No. OP/SCAC/1/12(11) dated May 14, 2015 on the matter.