Operations of the Trans Nzoia County Public Service Board (CPSB) have been suspended until the beginning of March.
This is after Governor George Natembeya announced the immediate closure of the board’s offices pending investigations into alleged misconduct and administrative irregularities.
In a press statement issued today, the first time governor said the decision followed what he described as “rogue behavior” by some members of the board whose tenure is due to expire at the end of February.
According to the statement, the county government believes the board made unilateral decisions that disrupted public administration, including the cancellation of an advertisement for the recruitment of new County Chief Officers on January 23, 2026.
The governor’s office claims the action created uncertainty in government operations because the contracts of most current chief officers had already expired.
The statement further alleged that the board chairman irregularly used personal funds to publish the cancellation notice in a newspaper — a move the county administration described as improper.
The county executive also accused the CPSB of employing eight nurses who had not been shortlisted through the established hiring process.
The move reportedly triggered a court case that halted the planned recruitment of 134 nurses, which the county says are urgently needed to strengthen health service delivery.
In addition, the governor said the board had ignored a directive issued on January 26 requiring its members to proceed on terminal leave.
He argued the law does not allow conversion of leave days into cash payments and that the members had outstanding leave days.
Despite the instruction, the statement said, the board continued transacting official business.
“Some of the business being conducted is not only unprocedural but also nepotistic and illegal,” the governor’s statement alleged.
Citing Article 73 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, the county government said the conduct had eroded public confidence in the institution.
As a result, the executive resolved to shut down the CPSB offices until the board is reconstituted and investigations are completed.
The administration said the measure is intended to prevent further administrative complications and restore “fairness, equity, justice and honor to the county public service.”
County staff and members of the public were asked for patience during the transition period, with the governor pledging to expedite reorganization processes to minimize disruption to service delivery.
Efforts to obtain an immediate response from members of the County Public Service Board were not successful by press time.
The CPSB is responsible for recruitment, promotion and discipline of county public officers, making it a critical institution in the management of devolved government personnel.
The closure therefore raises questions about how ongoing hiring and human resource functions will be handled in the interim period as the county awaits investigations and the appointment of a new board.
