Laikipia: Laikipia county assembly is contemplating dissolution of the local revenue board of seven members due to allegations of graft and sexual assault. A motion tabled by Thingithu ward Member of County Assembly Stephen Ndiritu alleged that members of the revenue body were extorting job seekers in the county, hence called for its disbandment.
According to Kenya News Agency, ‘We want to send them home for misuse of office through extorting job seekers and sexual harassment. They are tainting the county yet we have qualified people to conduct credible recruitment exercises for revenue collectors,’ claimed Ndiritu. The revenue body was assigned to recruit and employ staff by the Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu’s administration, while waiting for a fully constituted county public service board, which came into office barely a month ago.
The Segera ward MCA Salim Edum alleged that the body had recruited 250 revenue collectors who received their appointment letters, but which were later revoked. ‘However, som
e youth applied for revenue collecting job and received their appointment letters, which were later cancelled. It is demoralizing and yet the government is keen on uplifting the lives of young people,’ said Edum.
‘How will they uplift the lives of young people if they are blackmailing them through job applications, if you don’t give money, no opportunities, the current board should pave way for competent people,’ claimed the Segera MCA. On his part, Nominated MCA Amina Hussein revealed that the applicants were being charged between 60, 000 to Sh.80, 000 for each job offer.