Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
Activists in Bomet county have threatened to move to court over a statement made by Governor Hillary Barchok on Friday, that he might sack ‘disloyal’ staff.
The activists said the move will ensure no staff is sacked for political reasons.
Former Bomet Mayor Kipkemoi Barsumei said it was unlawful to threaten employees just because Barchok suspects they did not back him in the August 9 election.
He questioned why Barchok wanted employees who supported his rivals to be out of the county government and yet he wanted to spare the staff who supported him.
“It is wrong and unconstitutional to sack employees because of political associations. Every employee has his or her constitutional rights to support whoever they will deliver,” Barsumei said.
He spoke to the press in Bomet town on Sunday.
The former mayor said that the only employees who should be sacked are those who bridge the code of employment and not those who were in different political camps.
“We will not allow such leaders to sack employees for just mere claims and affect the source of income to their families and dependable people. If he will not heed to our advice to abandon the mission, we will challenge his decision in court,” he said.
The former councillor said that instead of the governor issuing threats to employees, he should motivate them first.
“The employees have been going for months without salary and have not dared to take actions to rectify it,” the former mayor said.
“The problems they have been undergoing could be the reason the staff choose to side with the governor's competitors and he should blame himself for it and stop targeting innocent employees.”
Image: KIPLANG'AT KIRUI
While holding the first meeting with employees after assuming office at Bomet IAAF stadium on Friday, Barchok said he will only work with loyal staff.
The county chief said he would not spare any staff who is not toeing the line when achieving the legacy.
“I will make a hard decision to let you go because I cannot no longer work with staff who do not support my leadership,” Barchok said while reading the riot act to his staff.
One week ago, Chama cha Mashinani party leader Isaac Rutto, who was Barchok's closest challenger in the polls, vowed to support him in discharging his mandates.
While conceding defeat, Rutto said he was not going to interfere with the running of the county.
In the poll, Barchok of UDA was declared the winner after garnering 158,898 votes while Rutto got 137,323 votes.
Benard Mutai of ANC came third after getting 1,915 votes while Andrew Towett of GP had 508 votes.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris