All Kisumu County Chief Officers will be held personally responsible if they go ahead to use public funds to pay casual wages, starting July 1, 2018.
The warning is contained in a memo by Kisumu County Secretary Olang’o Onudi to all departments.
The memo gave an okay to the sacking of at least 500 casual workers in the Lakeside County.
“Effective July 1, officers found to be using office float or any other unallocated public funds to pay casual wages shall take personal responsibility of refunding the said funds unless with express approval from this office,” the memo read in part.
“Provisions under our Employment Act 2007 and other labour relations necessitate that casuals not be engaged for a period exceeding three months,” adds the memo.
The County Secretary urged heads of various departments to terminate contracts of all casuals and volunteer workers.
“You are therefore advised to terminate engagements for those casuals who have worked beyond this period and on need basis seek approval from the public service board through this office for hiring casuals or short-term staff,” said the County Secretary.
The memo was directed to all chief officers, medical superintendents of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Kisumu County Hospital and the Kisumu City Manager.