Court stops Nakuru County from recruiting new enforcement officers

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The High Court in Nakuru has stopped the county government from recruiting more enforcement officers and asked that those engaged as casual workers in 2016 are given first priority.

Helen Wasilwa, the judge, issued the order stopping the county government, county public service board and the county executive member for public service from proceeding with its hiring plans. 

"A restraining order is hereby issued against the respondents from proceeding with recruitment suitability test pending the hearing and determination of this application," ruled Justice Wasilwa.

She made the application yesterday after some casual employees serving as enforcement officers since 2016 challenge a March 1 advertisement by the county public service board, seeking application for the positions of county enforcement officers.

"Despite the matter pending in court, the county government has advertised for the same posts and is conducting suitability tests at the expense of the petitioners. If the process proceeds, the earlier suits will be a litigation in vain since the claim will have been adversely altered," their application read. 

The matter arose from a dispute in 2016 where the previous administration hired180 workers irregularly. Those who were to benefit from the employment went to court in 2018 to challenge attempts by Governor Lee Kinyanjui's administration to fill in the vacant positions.

They were seeking to be employed on permanent basis, having served the administration for three years. 

The case will be heard on April 8.