It was a mistake! Nakuru County admits not following procedure in sacking of 24 workers

The Nakuru County Department of Public Service has admitted to not following due process in the dismissal of 24 county employees, resulting to the County Assembly to demand the withdrawal of the termination letters.

The affected workers had been employed as clerical officers in various departments since 2014 on permanent, pensionable contracts, until they received letters of dismissal dated July 31, 2025 informing them that their employment would end on October 1, 2025.

The matter was brought before the Assembly at the beginning of last month, prompting Speaker Joel Maina Kairu to instruct the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to investigate and report back within 28 days.

On October 5, the committee chairperson, Elijah Murage, presented the findings of a joint report by the committees on Labour, Gender, Youth and Social Welfare, and Justice and Legal Affairs regarding the alleged irregular termination.

Mr Murage informed the House that the Public Service Department had acknowledged breaching the Employment Act of 2007 during the termination process.

"The department admitted to not adhering to the procedures outlined in the Employment Act when dismissing the 24 employees," he said.

The committee also found inconsistencies in the process, noting that new letters of offer — issued just a day after the termination notices — contained revised terms, including reduced salaries, contrary to Section 10(5) of the Act.

Following these revelations, the committee recommended that the employees' terms of service revert to their previous status and that the county executive immediately withdraw the termination letters.

"Upon receipt of this report, the county executive should withdraw the purported dismissal letters and correct any anomalies. They must report to the Assembly within seven days on compliance," said Mr Murage.