Senators Order Sacking of 22 Government Workers After Hiring Scandal
Senators have directed the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to immediately terminate the contracts of 22 newly recruited employees after major irregularities were discovered in the agency’s latest hiring exercise.
The directive was issued on Monday, November 17, by the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration.
The committee noted that the recruitment was unlawful because the positions were never advertised, which is a clear violation of public service procedures.
The decision came after a tense and confrontational session where NCIC officials were questioned over glaring inconsistencies in their explanations.
Confusion deepened when the NCIC CEO and the Human Resources department gave conflicting accounts about why the commission initially planned to hire 20 staff members but ended up onboarding 22 instead.
Committee chair Senator Catherine Mumma strongly condemned the irregular process, calling it illegal and unacceptable.
She emphasized that any deviation from the approved plan must be backed by documented resolutions, which were missing in this case.
The senator also warned the NCIC CEO against bowing to outside influence, stressing that he would bear personal responsibility if found guilty of misconduct.
Following the intense grilling, the committee summoned all NCIC commissioners to appear before them on Tuesday.
They are expected to give a detailed explanation of how the questionable recruitment happened and why the commission issued contradicting statements about the process.
The hiring controversy overshadowed earlier discussions where both NCIC and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) were questioned about the increasing cases of inflammatory political remarks across the country.
Senators expressed concern that unchecked hate speech from influential leaders could ignite tension and destabilize the nation.
KNCHR CEO Bernard Mogesa particularly faced tough questions as he struggled to show what actions were being taken to curb hate speech made by politicians at rallies and, more recently, in churches.
Senator Mumma demanded evidence of real consequences against political figures who repeatedly make dangerous remarks, pointing out that some leaders continue to incite the public without facing any penalties.
Lamu Senator Kamau Gituku also asked for clarity on how the commission is monitoring and preventing the spread of hate speech.
In response, the NCIC stated that investigations had been intensified and that more individuals, including politicians, were being summoned for questioning.
The commission added that its surveillance on social media platforms and public gatherings has increased significantly since the 2022 General Election.
The Senate committee is expected to continue pushing for accountability as the recruitment saga unfolds, with a strong focus on ensuring transparency, adherence to the law, and active efforts to curb hate speech nationwide.
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