The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman, has directed the Mandera County Public Service Board to release detailed employment records dating back to 2013.
In a ruling addressed to the Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Board, CAJ insisted that the information be made available in strict compliance with the law. The directive follows an application for review lodged by an individual identified as AMA, who filed the request after the County Secretary allegedly failed to process an earlier application.
The applicant sought a wide range of employment details, including the total number of staff recruited since 2013, their positions, qualifications, designations, job descriptions, dates of employment, and dates of graduation. Additional information requested covered the clan affiliations of the employees, a matter that often sparks debate in the region.
CAJ wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of the Mandera County Public Service Board on June 16, 2025, demanding an institutional report within seven days. However, no response was received, prompting the Commission to escalate the matter.
In its ruling, the Commission reminded the county government of its obligations under Section 22(3) of the Access to Information Act, 2016, and Regulation 25(1) of the Access to Information General Regulations, 2023. These provisions compel public institutions to release requested information unless it falls under clearly defined exemptions.
While the Commission acknowledged that certain details such as job descriptions, dates of graduation, and clan designations could be exempt, it emphasized that all permissible records must still be disclosed.
CAJ subsequently ordered the Mandera County Public Service Board to facilitate access to the information within twenty-one days. The required disclosure must include the total number of employees hired since 2013, with a breakdown of positions, qualifications, and designations.
The Commission further warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract serious consequences as outlined in the law, underscoring its commitment to enforcing transparency and accountability in public service recruitment.
This ruling is expected to set a significant precedent in promoting access to information within county governments, particularly in regions where employment practices are often contested.
