- Awino claims that the speaker who also serves as the chair of the county service board has irregularly and unlawfully hired 12 employees to serve in his office.
- He further says this is despite the fact that the SRC circular of 2023 has only allowed for a maximum of 5 staff members of the office of the speaker.
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A human rights activist wants the court to quash the appointment of 12 members of staff working at the Nairobi County speaker’s office.
Francis Awino also wants the court to order EACC to criminally investigate and if culpable instruct the DPP to criminally prosecute the Speaker for his flagrant breach of the law in irregularly hiring the staff.
The petitioner noted overwhelming illegalities, irregularities, and circumvention of the law that was done by the Speaker within the County Assembly.
“An order of declaration to the effect that it is an act of abuse of office and corruption for the Speaker of the County Assembly to misuse the powers conferred upon him as the chair of the County Service Board and preside over the unlawful and irregular appointment of 12 members of staff in his office and kin of several members of the County Assembly,” the petition reads.
Awino claims that the speaker who also serves as the chair of the county service board has irregularly and unlawfully hired 12 employees to serve in his office.
He further says this is despite the fact that the SRC circular of 2023 has only allowed for a maximum of 5 staff members of the office of the speaker.
“In particular the Speaker has hired 3 personal drivers, 3 secretaries and 1 communications officer who is a former MCA,” reads court papers.
He further claims that the other 5 staff are ghost workers who cannot be accounted for and their identity remains unknown despite their names reflecting as staff working in the speaker's office.
He also argues that the lack of any advertisement for the job and shortlisting of candidates failed to allow selection of the employees on the basis of personal integrity, competence, and suitability of interested applicants
“The speaker is in abuse of this membership and authority corruptly employed and presided over the employment of relatives of some MCAs,” Awino claims.
He wants the court to order the Public Service Commission to conduct fresh interviews and appointments of the recommended members to serve in the speaker’s office.
“There is need that appointment of any staff of the County Assembly should be done by the public Service Commission and not the County Service Board,” reads court papers.
Lady Justice Mugure Thande has directed that the petition be served upon all parties by June 2 and response to be filed and served by June 16.
The case will be mentioned on July 5 for further directions.