Crisis in Embu public service as over 300 employees face sack

EMBU, KENYA: The Embu County government is seeking to alleviate an impending crisis in the public service that could see over 300 workers lose their jobs.

In a decree against the county on November 20, 2015, the industrial court issued a declaration that the decisions made by the County Public Service Board during the interdiction of the board chair were null and void.

The county government has moved to the Employment and Labour Relations court to protest against the judgement that reinstated Mundia Njeru Gateria as the chair of the board, declared void all the actions taken by the board in his absence and stated that his interdiction was illegal.

On his part, Wambora was ordered to pay Mundia Sh5 million while the county government would part with Sh2.5 million for violation of his rights.

According to documents filed at the court, County Secretary Raymond Kinyua submits that the functions of the county government would be paralysed if the judgement was allowed to stand.

The suit declares that following the interdiction of Mundia, the board continued its operation under the leadership of the vice chairman, who took up the role of the chairperson in an acting capacity.

During the period between April 2015 and November 2015 when the petitioner (Mundia) was interdicted, the board hired 335 staff to fill up several vacancies within the county government, suit papers say.

But with the declaration of the court, these people now stand to lose their jobs, submits the county.

"The department of health was the biggest beneficiary of the filled vacancies", Kinyua submitted, "The effect of the court's declaration would lead to paralysis of operations especially in the departments of Health, Public Service and Administration and Education".

The county government is also wary that the judgement would have a ripple effect on the affected staff.

However, the county felt aggrieved and filed a protest against the judgement. The matter will come up for mention on September 8.