Over 70 Embu County Government workers who were recently laid off have protested against the move terming it unfair.
The workers who congregated at the county headquarters seeking an audience with relevant authorities alleged that the dismissal was illegal as they were not given prior notice.
The contracts of the workers who have been in service in the enforcement department since 2016 expired in August, but were not renewed as they had anticipated rendering them redundant.
The move, they claimed, had subjected them to psychological and financial trauma as they did not anticipate the layoffs.
Led by County Government Workers Union Secretary General Roba Duba, the workers demanded to be reinstated as they submitted their petition to the County Secretary and CEC Administration and Public Service.
Duba said instead of appraising them to gauge their suitability to continue serving, the county went ahead to dismiss them which contravenes fair labor practices.
“We would have no problem if they did not need the jobs anymore, but they still need the job at the same level for the same salary,” he said.
He said the county instead dismissed them summarily and went ahead to employ “outsiders” to carry out the same jobs they were entitled to do.
He also accused the county of going ahead to tarnish their names by labeling them as thieves.
The Union’s Embu Branch Secretary Benson Njeru said they deserved renewal of their contracts having met all the required qualifications and served diligently in their posts since 2016.
They called on the government to intervene to save their jobs as they also vowed to seek legal redress should their petition to the devolved unit bear no fruits.
By Samuel Waititu
