05 May 2023

• At least 69 of the 71 Assembly members voted in favour of the ouster.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati has revoked the appointments of the County Public Service Board, consequently ending their mandate.

In a notice published in the Kenya Gazette and dated April 25, Arati quashed the legal authority of chairperson Nancy Nyamwange and four other members.

The four Judy Nyakerario, John Ndege, Patrick Momanyi and Jackson Ondiba were yet to complete their six-year term.

This follows a resolution of the County Assembly to pass a motion for their removal from office following a petition from a member of the public.

The Assembly members had on April 25 unanimously voted to kick out the entire board after an indicting report by House Labour Committee.

At least 69 of the 71 Assembly members voted in favour of the ouster.

The outcome of the verdict translated to a 99 per cent vote to surpass the 75 vote margin threshold required to sack the board.

The board members later moved to court to block their ouster. The matter is in court.

The Board officials had for two weeks been grilled by the Naftal Onkoba-led committee.

Petitioner Benson Atika had sought their removal on, among other grounds, failure to follow the due process in the recruitment of staff.

He accused the board Nyamwange of undertaking irregular promotions as well as extending the employment of staff some of who had attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Nyamwange was deputised by Jackson Ondiba.

Atika had in his petition also accused the board officials of irregularly engaging in converting casual employment into contract terms and subsequently permanent and pensionable terms without following laid-down guidelines.

Nominee Callen Magara tabled the motion to have the entire board ejected for abuse of office.

The motion was backed by Majority Leader Henry Moracha (Bassi Central) and nominees Celestine Mose and Lilan Omundi.

The motion only needed a majority threshold of 75 votes to sail through.

Dissenter Dolphin Bwari said the board officials were not given a fair chance to defend themselves.