Follow The Law, Union Urges County Public Service Boards

By Adieri Mulaa

Devolved governments will attain efficient and effective service delivery if county public service boards adhere to the County Governments Act, 2012.

Kenya County Government Workers Union is urging all the county public service boards follow the law which stipulates their functions and powers.

“As a Union, we are urging the county public service boards to act in conformity with the County Governments Act which is quite clear and explicit. It directs what the Boards are supposed to do”, KCGWU Deputy Secretary General Dr John Ndunda, said in Nairobi.

Functions and powers of a county public service board are stipulated under Section 59 (1) of the County Governments Act, 2012.

The law empowers county public service boards to establish and abolish offices in the county public service among many other functions.

Dr Ndunda is calling upon all public service boards in the county governments to read the law properly because it has clear provisions on what should be done by the Boards.

“We do not want to hear employees in county governments raising grievances regarding recruitment or promotions. We expect all processes to be carried out fairly in all counties in accordance with the law as provided”, Dr Ndunda says.

County public service boards also hold the power to appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the county governments, including the Boards of cities and urban areas within a county and to confirm appointments.

The KCGWU wants the Boards to listen to the employees saying some had worked for up to 30 years or more in one scale, especially those in the lower job groups.

“Cleaners fall under a common cadre. They only need brooms and not any other certificates to earn promotion. Those who cut grass only need slashers which should be provided by the employers. They should all earn promotions”, says the Union official.

Nonetheless, under Section 59 (1) (h) of the Act, it is the responsibility of the Boards to advise county governments on human resource management and development.

Dr Ndunda notes that today, counties have employees who are highly qualified with degrees, diplomas and certificates in various academic disciplines.

“It is not those days when it was said that most county government employees or local authorities as it were, only had birth certificates”, he said.

Section 59 (1) (g) of the Act, 2012 mandates public service boards to – facilitate the development of coherent, integrated human resource planning and budgeting for personnel emoluments in counties.

According to the Union, many employees in county governments had aquired wide experience and skills, some having worked in various sectors. But they orient and teach new recruits who are placed above them because of professional certificates.

Nairobi City County Secretary, Dr Jairus Musumba (left) and the County Public Service Board chairman, Thomas Kasoa display a list of resolutions reached between the county government, the Board and the workers Union recently.

Dr Ndunda is now urging workers in the county governments to increase their productivity and collect more revenue to sustain service delivery and their welfare.

“We have agreed with the county executive and the Board that we will embark on negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on 26th October, 2021”, said the Union official.

In Nairobi county, negotiations for the workers’ new CBA to kicked off Tuesday.

“When that is concluded, we do not want to be told there is no money. So I urge you to double your effort in your various roles for collective gain”, he told the workers.