Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has demanded answers from county authorities after more than 500 health workers were abruptly dismissed, triggering a major labour dispute in the region. Speaking during a Senate session—his first since the passing of his brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga—the Senator urged the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee to investigate what he described as an alarming breakdown in recruitment and employment procedures within Siaya County. According to him, the affected workers had been hired competitively, served for months, yet never received salaries before being informed that their appointments were invalid.
The dispute stems from a recruitment exercise advertised by the Siaya County Public Service Board late last year. While only 120 positions were announced, Senator Oburu told the Senate that the board ended up issuing more than 700 appointment letters, creating confusion that later escalated into mass dismissals. Many of the workers reportedly began service in January 2025 after completing internships, document verification and induction, only to be told eight months later that 520 of them were not included in the official payroll. This contradicts the Public Service Board’s earlier stance, with CEO Wilfred Nyagudi stating in September that inconsistencies discovered in reference letters prompted the terminations.
The Senator’s intervention has intensified pressure on the county to account for the hiring process and the subsequent revocation of contracts. Many of the affected workers held meetings with county officials, where only 120 were confirmed as genuine employees. The rest were instructed not to return to work, even as uncertainties surrounding their unpaid salaries persisted. Oburu has questioned how such a significant number of people could serve continuously for more than three months—a period that, under labour regulations, qualifies them for permanent and pensionable employment—without the county recognising their status or compensating them.
Senator Oburu has now demanded that the Labour Committee provide detailed findings on how the alleged irregularities occurred, the specific stations where the workers had been deployed, and the mechanisms the county will use to regularise the employment of those who worked in good faith. He is also seeking a clear timeline on when the dismissed health workers will receive payment for the nine months they served without compensation. The Senate is expected to debate the matter further once the committee submits its report, setting the stage for potential legal, administrative and financial consequences for the Siaya County Government.