Over 300 senior Siaya County Government staff members, mostly revenue collection officers, were on Wednesday put on notice by the area Governor Cornel Rasanga, after he discovered that they had not resumed work after the long festive season.

Mr Rasanga ordered action to be taken against more than 300 county workers who he found missing at their work stations as at yesterday.

The governor on Wednesday morning made a surprise visit to all county offices and directed that those who had not reported to be given show-cause letters, by the Human Resources department.

Roll call

An angry Rasanga ordered his officers to take roll call of those present. Among the workers affected by the directive are over 150 revenue officers whom the governor declared must vacate office and pave way for a new team that is ready to serve.

The other workers affected are directors, chief officers and Executive Committee members whom he found not to have reported to work after the festive season. On Wednesday, the governor directed Human Resource Director Dismas Obondo to draft termination letters for the revenue workers and warning letters to the other officials who had not reported to work.

The CECs for Tourism, Education, Health, Finance and Lands departments had not reported to the office. Rasanga said workers who had not reported to work would not be paid for the days they were absent.

5 schools closed

Elsewhere, dozens of teachers in five schools in Lamu County are trading blames with the security personnel in the area, after it emerged that there are potential insecurity incidences, a tension caused by Al Shabaab militants.

The five primary schools - Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiunga - in Lamu County have failed to open for 2018’s first term, following the eminent scare posed by the Somalia-based Al Shabaab militants.

Reports on Wednesday indicated that teachers and pupils kept away due to insecurity caused by al Shabaab, despite and assurance from Boni Enclave campaign director Joseph Kanyiri that the area is relatively secure and that learning could resume.

Mr Kanyiri has allegedly restored to trading accusations with teachers, arguing that teachers have deliberately failed to report back to work, while teachers maintained that they don’t feel safe at the time.

“Kenyans are entitled to government services and so any dithering will be dealt with expeditiously. People should stop fretting, panicking and being timid in the name of security concerns. The security in Basuba is fairly stable so learning can take place,” he said.

He added: "The security situation has really improved. Teachers and civil servants should go back to work.”