Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok has been temporarily barred from appointing partisan staff to his office except those approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru issued conservatory orders stopping the county chief from appointing extra staff to his office, that of his deputy and county secretary.
The orders stand until the case is heard and determined.
It covers advisers, special advisers, directors, personal assistants and other staff.
The ruling resulted from an application filed by lawyer Sigey Bett. He argued the governor, county government and public service board were illegally incorporating political functionaries without authorisation.
Bett claimed numerous political appointments would cause fruitless, wasteful and unnecessary expenditures.
“Unless the orders herein are granted, the respondents will continue to disregard legally binding advisories of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission with the utmost impunity,” he stated.
He said the people of Bomet will be condemned to pay more than Sh30 million yearly to maintain an unnecessary and bloated team.
The lawyer argued that under staff emoluments approved by the governor, an adviser earns on average a gross monthly salary of as much as Sh200,000, which translates to Sh2.4 million annually.
He said it was sad while other counties were recruiting health workers to help manage Covid-19, the county has been hard at work recruiting political appointees with little to offer.
(Edited by V. Graham)
