The Public Service Commission (PSC) has urged heads of State agencies to strictly adhere to laws, policies and guidelines governing human resource management and disciplinary control to avoid costly legal disputes.
PSC Chairperson Francis Meja expressed concern over the increasing number of disciplinary appeals being referred to the commission for consideration, saying the trend pointed to non-compliance with established procedures by public institutions.
“When technical officers and Boards or Councils exercise due diligence on disciplinary matters, fewer appeals and court cases follow. It is also a win-win scenario for the government and individual officers,” said Meja.
He was speaking at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa during the opening session of a capacity-building workshop for State corporations and public universities on human resource matters arising from disciplinary control.
The workshop, organised by the Commission, brought together chairpersons and chief executive officers of State corporations, alongside council members and vice-chancellors of public universities.
Meja said failure by institutions to comply with the requisite legal and administrative procedures, particularly after successful appeals, exposed them to unnecessary financial liabilities and possible personal accountability for officers responsible for the decisions.
He warned that poorly handled disciplinary processes could also have far-reaching consequences on institutional performance, including undermining employee confidence, lowering staff morale and compromising service delivery.
The PSC chairperson called on leaders of public institutions to familiarise themselves with the applicable human resource laws and guidelines to ensure disciplinary matters are handled fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
He noted that proper management of disciplinary cases would not only reduce the burden of appeals and litigation on the Commission but also safeguard the rights of employees while strengthening accountability in public service.
The workshop seeks to equip leaders of State corporations and public universities with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle disciplinary matters effectively and ensure compliance with established human resource management frameworks.
Also present were PSC commissioners Joan Machayo and Boya Molu, Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba, and Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Legal Services Jacqueline Manani
