Two Content Supervisors (CS) trainees for the forthcoming National Census were summarily dismissed on Friday by the Machakos County Census Committee due to gross misconduct.
With only two days to go before the end of the training, the two were shown the door after lengthy discussions and the Machakos Census Coordinator, Paul Samoei ordered to replace them immediately with two others from a lot of 18 who have been undergoing the same training but on a stand-by basis.
In a sitting held at the Mumbuni Boys High School Boardroom where the CS’s training has been going on for the last five days, the ten-member committee chaired by Machakos ACC 1, George Omwoyo on behalf of the County Commissioner (CC), Esther Maina, unanimously resolved to terminate the contract of George Nyambu and Kyalo Munywoki after separately listening to their responses to indiscipline accusations leveled against them by their trainers.
The sitting was also attended by the County Statistics Officer who is also the committee secretary among other members.
Nyambu had been accused of absenting himself repeatedly without permission, being drunk during training and failing to take the mandatory oath of secrecy that was administered to all other trainees.
Munywoki was similarly accused of being perpetually drunk during the training. When separately called before the meeting, the two, who were visibly drunk, admitted their offences but pleaded with the committee to give them a second chance. “It is true I drink every night but I am determined to stop it from today. The alcohol fumes you smell from me, are simply because yesterday I took the smelly “Keg” ale instead of my usual beer,” said Munywoki.
Asked how he intended to participate in the exercise without taking the mandatory oath, which he missed due to absence, Nyambu said he could go to the local law courts to have a Magistrate administer the same on him. He similarly promised to stop his drinking habits during the duration of the census.
However, the committee felt that the two were not fit to supervise the national exercise and if allowed they could fail to turn up during the crucial night of 24th/25th August.
There was fear that they could lose the hand-held gadgets and that they were not “sober” enough to supervise enumerators. “Given the seriousness of this exercise we are unable to allow you to continue with your training and your contract with the government is hereby terminated”, Omwoyo told the two.
By Justus Keesi
