Kenya Forest Service under fire over irregular staff sackings, court lapses
In the year ending June 2024, the agency spent Sh24 million on legal services, but the Auditor-General found that its legal department lacked clear strategies for defending some of the cases.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is facing increased scrutiny after an audit revealed it unlawfully dismissed 36 employees, with 13 later reinstated by its board and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry.
The Auditor-General found that the sackings were carried out without proper legal and procedural backing, raising concerns about the agency’s human resource and legal units.
More To Read
- NTSA dismisses claims of losing control over TIMS amidst audit concerns
- Mismanagement of Co-operatives funds amid delayed audits sparks probe
- 529 Kenya Railways plots grabbed, Sh27 million lost in yearly rent - Auditor General
- Governors reject audit of bursary funds in six counties
- Motorists demand full refund of road levies, say fuel price hike illegal
- NTSA yet to print 572,000 smart licences despite full delivery by supplier
According to Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, “Review of the human resource documents provided for audit revealed 36 cases of staff dismissals.
Thirteen members of staff were reinstated after the disciplinary committees of the board and the ministry ruled that the dismissal was unprocedural.”
The reasons behind the terminations were not disclosed in the audit, but the report directly faulted the responsible departments for failing to carry out proper due process.
“However, there was no evidence of due diligence by the Service’s human resource and legal departments to determine the legality of some of the dismissals later overturned,” said Gathungu.
The audit pointed to weak internal systems and warned of possible penalties for unfair dismissal, noting that three of the affected staff had already taken legal action against the agency.
These revelations add to concerns about the agency's capacity to manage legal risks and uphold employment law.
The report also exposed a separate issue of negligence in court processes, revealing that KFS had paid Sh8.17 million in compensation in cases it lost by default after failing to appear in court.
This is part of a broader legal burden facing the institution, which is currently entangled in 179 active court cases.
In the year ending June 2024, the agency spent Sh24 million on legal services, but the Auditor-General found that its legal department lacked clear strategies for defending some of the cases.
This has raised further concerns about poor case management and wasteful spending in handling legal matters.
The findings have placed the KFS under sharp focus, with questions mounting over the competence of its internal departments and the accountability of its leadership. The audit warns that without proper systems, the agency risks further financial losses and reputational damage.
Top Stories Today
