A group of former revenue collectors has voiced their frustration and dismay over what they describe as an unprocedural and unfair dismissal from their jobs. The affected employees claim they were let go verbally by their supervisors in February last year, without being issued any official termination letters.
This, they argue, has not only deprived them of their livelihood but also created uncertainty, as they remain in limbo regarding their employment status.
In an exclusive interview with Hopkin Digital, the collectors revealed that despite numerous attempts to seek clarification and resolution, their grievances have been largely ignored. They are now demanding payment for the 18 months of unpaid salaries they believe they are owed.
Additionally, they are calling for a formal reinstatement to their positions, arguing that their sudden and informal dismissal has left them unable to secure other jobs.
The affected workers highlighted that they have been depending heavily on their salaries to meet essential needs, including paying bills and supporting their families. They expressed concern that the lack of formal termination letters has prevented them from seeking alternative employment, making it difficult to sustain their livelihoods.
“We have been left in a state of confusion, not knowing whether we are still employed or not. This has affected not just our finances but also our families,” said one of the dismissed collectors.
Efforts by the affected workers to engage the county leadership have proven fruitless. According to them, discussions have taken place between Chief Officer for Finance Mr. Makau Kimwele and Director of Revenue Ms. Roseline Kavata, but no tangible progress has been made to address their concerns.
The workers believe that the county’s financial leadership has failed to provide any concrete solutions despite their continued appeals.
In their appeal, the dismissed revenue collectors have also reached out to Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, urging him to step in and hasten their reinstatement. They believe that the Governor’s intervention could help resolve the issue and bring relief to their ongoing financial struggles.
Attempts to obtain a comment from County Finance Officer Makau Kimwele were met with resistance. Despite finding him alone in his office, and after the secretary informed him of our reporter’s request for a brief two-minute meeting, Kimwele declined, instructing the reporter to return the following day. However, when the reporter arrived as scheduled, Kimwele was in a meeting with the governor, raising questions about why he had scheduled the appointment knowing he would be unavailable.
Similarly, efforts to reach Rosslyn Kavata, the Director of Revenue, were unsuccessful as she was on leave. She referred our reporter to Kitui County Finance CECM, Mr. Mwikya Kilonzo. Attempts to contact Mr. Kilonzo via SMS went unanswered, forcing us to proceed with the story without their input.
Ends///
