Vihiga county revenue receiver Richard Rapando has been dumped by Governor Wilbur Ottichilo’s administration and denied his acting allowance. Rapando wrote to the management requesting for payment of acting allowance, having performed duties as the county revenue receiver vide a letter dated March 10 2020 where he indicated as having acted in the position since November 15 2017 when the notorious chief-of-staff Noah Okaya promoted him. He was substantively designated as an accounts clerk, job group J, a position held since July 1, 2016. The officer was first issued with a letter to act as revenue receiver with effect from October 18, 2017, the letter that was endorsed by then acting county secretary. Another letter dated November 15 2017 signed by CECM finance and economic planning also informed the officer of acting appointment as county government receiver with immediate effect. In both letters, the officer was informed he would act until a substantial appointment was made. “In the county records, Rapando possesses a Diploma in Accountancy (2014), KATC Intermediate Level (1997), a driving license and KCSE Mean Grade C- (1991), which doesn’t make him qualified for the position,” a letter from the human resource management says.
Richard Rapando
It advises that Section C.14 (1) of human resource policies and procedures manual for the public service, May 2016 permits acting appointment, further allowing payment of acting allowance for a period not exceeding six months. Under section C.14 (3) of the same manual, it allows payment of the allowance subject to recommendation by the county human resource advisory committee and approval by the county public service board. Also, section C.14(4) further requires that appointments in job group Q and above be accompanied by a draft indent for the advertisement of the vacancy and the same be forwarded to CPSB. The HR notes from the above policy provision, Rapando should have acted for a maximum period of 6 months, up to May 14, 2018. “In the interim period the management should have forwarded the job and person’s specification to the CPSB for competitive filing of the position since the vacancy is at job group R. However, the appointment to acting presupposes that the employee meets the minimum scheme of service requirement for substantive appointment to the position,” HR said. They noted Rapando does not meet the threshold for appointment to the substantive position and therefore should not have been appointed to act. In both acting and special duty consideration, the officer is eligible for traveling privileges, accommodation allowance, subsistence allowance and entertainment allowance applicable to the higher post. According to Rapando’s request, the HR observed that section 64 of the county government Act prohibits a person not qualified from being appointed in the acting capacity. It is the preserve of the CPSB to make appointment including acting appointments. In Rapando’s case, the appointing authorities may be put to question. The officer should have been appointed to draw special duty allowance but not acting allowance as of the case. “A maximum duration for the officer to have been entitled to special duty should have been for the period of six months. However, his continued performance of duties and noting that the position is still vacant obligates the management to revoke a special consideration for the compensation of his efforts and results in overseeing the docket of county revenue receiver,” the HR noted.
