Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization (KALRO) is an important government body that is mandated to contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector through research coordination and regulation; technology and innovation development; and catalyze transfer and utilization of agricultural research outputs.
Their staff have written to the Senate to investigate the organisation over crooked promotions.
In Kenya, corruption has destroyed meritocracy. Many moneyed people buy job for themselves and their kin thereby defeating the core goodness of being loyal to the organisational ideals and hardwork.
For example, these days, govt agencies such as the KDF, and police have attracted children of moneyed people who even during training are given special favours and soon after promoted to positions of leadership.
This creates a culture of laziness and soon, laced with impunity, the country cannot withstand terrorists because the criteria for employment are not based on merit but on blood relations and tribe. People who are just there to earn money and nothing else. People who even when they are underperforming, cannot be replaced.
READ: Staff Expose Glaring Administrative Injustices At KALRO
That’s just an example of how nepotism and tribalism make agencies or even companies fail in the long run. Below is the letter by KALRO staff, addressed to the Senate.
KALRO staff have exercised their right through Article 37 of the constitution. Everyone should for a better country.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization (KALRO) Employees
C/O Ourselves
Nairobi Headquarters
14/04/2022
The Chairperson
Agricultural Parliamentary Committee
Parliament Building
Po Box 41842 – 00100
Nairobi – Kenya
The Chairperson
Senate Agricultural Committee
Parliament Building
Po Box 41842 – 00100
Nairobi -Kenya
Through
The Clerk National Assembly
And The Clerk Senate
Dear Sir/Madam
RE: PETITION TO THE SENATE CONCERNING VIOLATION OF EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AS STIPULATED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANUAL
We the undersigned are employees of Kenya Agricultural Research and Livestock Organization (KALRO).
DRAW the attention of the senate to the following,
THAT;
• KALRO management has shown intention to hire new employees as advertised in the (Daily Nation of April 14th 2022)
• KALRO seeks to place them higher than its staff who have had superior qualifications for decades and have not been promoted, designated or placed appropriately.
• The union has failed KALRO staff because it has been compromised.
The organization is in violation of constitution principles set out in Article 250 (5) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the SRC Act, 2011.
KALRO Staff have very serious issues of promotion, placements re designation among others. The organization is in violation Section 45 of the Public Service. The advert places degree holders several grades higher than serving staff with the same qualification and have served for many years without promotion, placement, and designation.
Staffs have continued to stagnate in the same grades since 2014 while a minority has been promoted irregularly and secretly. Majority are losing out on Gross pay and pension. The organization is in violations of rights under Article 23 of the Constitution Act, Section 5 of the Employment Act, Sections 18,9 and 24 of the Constitution of Kenya (Protection of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) Practice and Procedure Rules, 201 and other enabling provisions of the law such as salaries and remuneration Commission.
Petitioners submit that Article 27(1) of the Constitution entitles the petitioners equal protection and benefit of the law.
MOREOVER, we observe that,
Despite these glairing administrative injustices and many more, efforts geared towards corrective measures such as placements, promotions and designations, have failed.
The few promotions carried out were not based on merit and the action of the Respondent amounts to unlawful, unilateral and subjective decision bordering on abuse of office and violation of the petitioners fundamental rights under the Constitution and breach of the Respondent’s statutory duty owed to the petitioners, particularly Section 45 of the Public Service.
Arising from the foregoing this situation has provided fertile ground for petitioners to undergo untold suffering, mental anguish and illness resulting from stress.
WHEREFORE, your humble petitioners pray that the senate,
1. Hears and investigates this matter in order to make appropriate recommendations thereon
2. Issues a permanent injunction restraining the Respondent its servants, officials, representatives and/or agents from interviewing appointing the recruits to the positions while serving employees with superior qualifications have not been promoted, designated, and placed for decades.
3. Directs a forensic audit in view of the foregoing issues and
4. Directs that the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC), Director Of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director of public prosecution (DPP) to investigate whether any criminal offenses arise from the facts set out in the petition and take appropriate action there on.
