Busia MCAs on Wednesday unanimously adopted a motion seeking to probe the hiring of county directors and their deputies over suspected irregularities.
The county on May 11 last year advertised jobs for 20 directors and 36 deputy directors.
The motion questoining the move was drafted and presented to the county assembly by Bukhayo North MCA Gaddy Jakaa.
“This motion is seeking information to dispel rumours that some individuals who have been appointed were neither shortlisted nor interviewed for those positions,” he said.
The motion was seconded by Ang’urai North MCA Isaac Wamalwa.
Jakaa in the motion wants an investigation conducted on the process through which the county hired directors and their deputies.
The MCA wants the county Public Service Board compelled to produce a list of all applicants for the positions of directors and deputy directors following the job advert published on the county website.
The advert had sought applications from interested candidates to fill the positions of departmental directors and their deputies.
Jakaa also wants the county Public Service Board compelled to produce a list of all shortlisted candidates, those interviewed and a list of applicants who were appointed to the two positions.
While defending his motion, Jakaa said there was a loud public outcry over the process that led to the appointments.
He claimed some of the officers who received appointment letters recently were not on the shortlist.
He also alleged that some of those who were appointed had not applied for the jobs.
His Amukura West counterpart Boniface Erute said the motion was part of the oversight role of the county assembly.
He said positions of directors are very critical in county service delivery and the hiring of such officers shouldn’t be marred with irregularities.
Minority leader Zacheus Kubasu (Marachi North) agreed.
Assembly speaker Fredrick Odilo overruled calls for the formation of an ad hoc committee to address the matter as proposed by Ang’orom North MCA James Ong’ole and his Ang’urai East counterpart David Parapara.
“They didn’t have any reason to convince me that the Committee on Labour is unable to handle this matter,” the speaker said.
“I, therefore, directed that the motion be committed to the said committee and report back to the house within 21 days.”
