Siaya County fires 380 irregularly hired health workers

Siaya County has fired more than 380 workers who were irregularly hired in the health department. The employees are accused of providing forged employment documents. Wilfred Nyagudi, chief executive officer of the County Public Service Board, said the employees were identified during a vetting after more than 500 complained of unpaid salaries. The county said that some of the employees were fired because of inconsistencies in the sequence of reference letters. Some employees had deployment letters dated earlier than their appointment. The workers have disputed the allegations by the county. “Employment letters were given to us in December, and we reported in January. We have been diligent; we have been working. There is also the six-month probation period before confirmation into the system, and during that time, documents are supposed to be verified by the relevant bodies. That process was done,” said Emily Nabwala Anyango, one of the fired employees. Felix Omondi expressed similar sentiments. “We have been working hard to survive because how do you survive without being paid? We had to survive, dress well and smile to the patients. We have been doing that. What will happen to us now? Should we go home and tell our families we don’t have jobs, yet they know we have been working?” Omondi said.