Kisumu County employees threaten to down tools until officer removed

 

Kenya County Government Workers Union {KCGWU} Kisumu Branch Secretary Joel Omondi Ondu address the press in Kisumu today where members of the Branch have threatened to down their tools as from tomorrow Tuesday September 14, 2021 until an officer whom they have accused of being in office illegally is removed-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

September 13, 2021

 Kisumu County employees threaten to down tools until officer removed

 UNIONISABLE Employees at the County Government of Kisumu have threatened to down their tools as from tomorrow Tuesday September 14, 2021 until an officer whom they have accused of being in office illegally is removed.

The Employees led by their Kenya County Government Workers Union {KCGWU} Kisumu Branch Secretary Joel Omondi Ondu have vowed to carry out peaceful demonstration to condemn the continued stay of John Kabong in office as the Director Inspectorate at the County Government of Kisumu despite his contract expired and attaining the mandatory age for retirement of 60 years.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, the Union’s Branch Secretary for Kisumu said they had written a letter to the office of the County Secretary at the County Government of Kisumu over what they have termed as continuous harassment of workers and gross violation of the Employment Act 2007, Labour Relations Act 2007 and the constitution of Kenya 2010 by John Kabong whom they have also accused of purporting to be the Director of Enforcement at the County.

In the letter dated August 30, 2021, the Workers have accused the said officer of assaulting a revenue officer identified as Lawrence Ooko on February 22, 2021, adding that the matter was reported to the office of the County Secretary and the Police for action.

“The P.O.S Machine he confiscated from Mr. Lawrence Ooko is yet to be returned to your office or to the Director of Revenue,” part of the letter reads.

They have further accused the said officer of leveling bribery claims on some three employees namely Hussein Badawi, Erick Onyango and Jeremiah Gawo around March 2020 to the office of the County Secretary for alleged victimization, adding that the officer has been allegedly writing letters of transfers to the employees within the department he is purported to be heading without necessarily following the laid down procedures.

“We petition your office, the office of the Governor Kisumu County, Chairman Kisumu County Public Service Board, County Assembly of Kisumu Speaker, MCAs and Director of Human resource to avail and make public if at all there is an official contact of service between the County Government of Kisumu and Mr John Kabong,” the letter adds.

The workers say it is through this letter which they issued as a 14 day notice from August 30, 2021 and is expiring today September 13, 2021 that they are left with no option but to mobilize and assemble at Prosperity House that houses the offices of the County Government of Kisumu tomorrow Tuesday September 14, 2021 to eject the said officer out of office and lock the door hence handover its key to the County Secretary, adding that their demands above have never been met since there is no written response from the County Secretary.

The workers nevertheless say the County Government of Kisumu has always observed keenly fair labour practices touching on fundamental rights of workers as provided for in the Articles 27,36, 41 coupled with Articles 1,2,3,19,20,22,47 and 50 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

“It is also relatively important to mention to you a circular letter signed by Chairman of the Public Service Commission dated November 19,2020 while referring to another circular dated March 20,2009 that reviewed the mandatory age for retirement from 55 to 60 years with immediate effect from April 1, 2009.He further cited section 80{1} {a} and {b} of the Public Service Commission Act that provides that a public officer shall retire from the service with effect from the date of attaining mandatory retirement age and the commission or the appointing authority shall not extend the services of such a public officer beyond the mandatory age of retirement,” the letter further reads.

County Secretary at the County Government of Kisumu Geoffrey Kigochi did not respond to the text message this writer communicated to him via his cellphone number using a whatsapp by the time of going to press.

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