Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has come under sharp criticism for reappointing 33 out of the 50 fired Thika Municipal Council employees.
The Governor said he reached the decision after learning the employees were fired without following due process. "I have today handed reappointment letters to 33 former employees of the defunct Thika Municipal Council whose contracts had been unlawfully terminated by the then Mayor Mumbi Ng’aru. The 33 are among the 50 former staffs who had approached my office seeking consideration of being reinstated. The other 17 had already reached their retirement age and my government has agreed to pay them their retirement benefits fully," said the county boss in a Facebook post on Tuesday.The move, however, seems to have irked Kiambu residents, with some faulting the governor’s advisers for misleading him. Here are some of their reactions:Ephantus Kinyanjui: “That's just a stupid political move...instead of reducing the high wage Bill, you are busy playing politics with our county.”King'oo Kia Mwangi: “Whoever advises you always misleads you. That's a political move, solving none of our problems.”Jane Kagangara: “Good.let’s hope the 17 posts will be given to our learned youths who have lacked chances coz they don't have experience. Unless they get a chance, they will never get experience.”Kagwamba David: “I don't like your leadership, period. How on earth does a purported leader of your calibre maintain drunkards Sh2m daily whereas roads are impassable, ECDE classes have no infrastructure and you are blowing 60m monthly to maintaining grownups? Good for nothing.”Fumat G. John: “I myself made a wrong choice for governor, how is this going to help me and I have tried looking for a job there since I left school until am past youth age bracket now? Who advised you here sir?”James Johnston: “I thought we had retire pact which is a different sector. Hakuna tap water, hakuna barabara, schools are in worse state, jobs are scarce in the villages, exempt all small manufacturing plants set in the villages.”Njau Martin: “Wakaharwe you are funny. While the government wants to reduce wage bill you are shouting in FB how good you are using development funds to employ former employees whose work is already taken. Pull down this post it shows lack of conscience of development.”James Johnston: “Emulate Kivutha Kibwana. Mheshimiwa, learn to listen to anyone and everyone . You can learn something new even from a child. Instead of going on television go to the common man see what ailing them. Nost will tell you barabara, lack of jobs and running water.”