Three board members sue Rasanga for changing terms of employment

Three members of Siaya County Public Service Board have taken Governor Cornel Rasanga to court for illegally attempting to change their terms of employment from full-time to part-time beginning this month.

Ismael Noo, Joannes Okere and Florence Oketch went to the Industrial Court after all the five members of the board were issued with letters varying their terms of appointment from permanent to part time. The board's term comes to an end in March 2019.

In a letter dated July 21, 2015 and signed by Governor Rasanga, the members were told that a decision to change their terms of employment was passed at the county executive committee members meeting held on June 23.

They were required to accept the new terms by signing new appointments within seven days, which lapsed on Friday.

Reached for comment, Mr Rasanga said the board had been operating contrary to laws that govern boards.

"We leave it to the court to give the correct interpretation. But what I have done is within the law. Most boards are never on permanent terms, and the members are usually paid according to the sittings they hold. We are simply complying with what happens everywhere else when it comes to boards. Siaya is not unique for it to have board members on permanent terms," he said.

The three, however, managed to obtain an injunction barring Rasanga from altering or varying their terms of employment pending the determination of the case that will be heard in September 23.