The leadership of the Bungoma County Assembly has dismissed corruption claims in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
Speaking at the County Assembly headquarters on Friday, January 7, 2022, Assembly Clerk John Mosongo clarified that the service board has been following the laid down procedures in hiring.
“We have for a long time faced staff shortage. The current staff population stands at 75 employees while the optimum number of employees expected to serve the assembly should be between 115 and 125 employees,” explained the clerk.
Owing to the shortage, the County Assembly Service Board advertised 55 vacancies in September 2021.
A list of shortlisted candidates was published on the official assembly website alongside their interview dates.
“We have nothing to hide. The board is and will remain fair in discharging its mandate,” added Mosongo.
The county prioritized four positions which have since been filled, and they include; the Deputy Clerk Legislative Services, Principal Finance Officer, Deputy Clerk Administration, and the Principal Human Resource Officer.
Early this week, Kimilili Ward MCA David Barasa raised alarm about the recruitment exercise, claiming it was marred with serious irregularities.
When presenting his allegations, the ward representative insinuated that some of the administrators within the county assembly leadership were at the center of the compromised exercise.
He called upon the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) to move with speed to counter the violation of the recruitment procedures.
Also resent at the press conference was the Public Accounts Committee Chair Tony Baraza.
But the clerk dismissed the claims of canvassing as unfounded.
“The County Assembly of Bungoma is an equal opportunity employer. Any form of canvassing will lead to disqualification of an applicant,” said the Clerk.
He also assured those awaiting their interview dates and interview results not to be worried because they will be assessed by the service board equally.