Kakamega County Assembly clerk Patrick Kamwessar has rejected a formal retirement order from the County Public Service Board, alleging unlawful termination and citing constitutional protections. The decision, issued February 27, invoked the County Assemblies Services Act 2017 to mandate his immediate exit, though no specific grounds were provided.
Kamwessar, who had recently returned from a two-month forced leave beginning December 3, argued he had not reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 nor requested early exit. "I have just resumed office from leave and I shall seek to continue discharging the duties of my office as mandated by law," he stated, vowing legal action if his office remains locked.
The dispute follows longstanding tensions within the assembly. In 2015, speaker Morris Buluma faced contempt charges after overseeing the removal of his deputy, Cleophas Malala, despite a court order. Malala later secured over Sh20 million in damages, a debt the assembly still owes.
Kamwessar’s termination process began with a December 3 letter ordering 30 days of leave, later extended by another 30 days. Upon returning to work in February, he found his office doors locked. A meeting with Buluma and Majority Leader Joel Ongoro to discuss his exit package collapsed when Ongoro allegedly demanded his immediate departure.
Recent assembly conflicts include October 2018 protests by members of county assembly (MCAs) who locked out senior officials over unpaid welfare benefits. A subsequent legal suit by MCAs sought mortgage facilities, highlighting systemic financial disputes within the assembly structure.
