Nairobi County Public Service Board Chairperson, Thomas Kasoe, is under scrutiny after it was revealed that he may be holding office unlawfully. The revelation came during a session in which Ngei MCA, Redson Onyango, sought clarification on whether the recruitment of the chairperson, his deputy, and board members was conducted in line with the law. According to Onyango, the appointment process violated the County Governments Act of 2012.
“There are allegations that the recruitment of the current County Public Service Board Chairperson, his deputy, and other members did not follow the procedures outlined in the County Government Act of 2012. The Labour Committee should investigate and confirm whether the proper procedures were followed,” Onyango said.
He further requested that the inquiry include the production of the gazette notice advertising the positions, as well as details on the number of applicants. Additionally, Onyango called for a report on the processes handled by the relevant committees, noting that there was no evidence of vetting.
Onyango’s concerns were echoed by Assembly Majority Leader and Makongeni Ward Representative, Peter Imwatok, who linked irregular appointments to the persistent issue of ghost workers in the county. Imwatok urged Nairobi County to follow the example of Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who conducted a headcount to address similar issues.
“In Nairobi County, we see a large number of workers, including the Green Army, which we know consists of 3,000 individuals. However, the county also has a significant number of ghost workers. The only way to address this is by following Arati’s approach in Kisii,” Imwatok stated. Onyango also raised concerns about the county’s bloated wage bill, which continues to pay individuals who have retired or passed away but remain on the payroll.
