A constitutional standoff has erupted in Trans Nzoia County after Governor George Natembeya ordered the immediate closure of the County Public Service Board (CPSB) offices.
The directive comes just days before the board members’ six-year term is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2026.
On Monday morning, board secretariat staff reporting to work found county enforcement officers manning the premises.
The staff were denied entry to their offices, handed transfer letters, and instructed to report to their new working stations at the county headquarters.
In a press release dated February 16, 2026, Governor Natembeya stated he had officially ordered the closure of the offices and operations of the board until March 2, 2026.
Why did Natembeya shut down County Public Service Board Offices?
He cited “rogue behavior” by some board members as the primary reason for the shutdown.
The executive made the decision in the public interest to halt operations until the board is reconstituted and investigations are completed.
The governor outlined several specific accusations against the board leadership. He stated that on January 23, 2026, the CPSB made an unfounded and unilateral decision to cancel an advertisement for the recruitment of new County Chief Officers.
This action, he noted, severely disoriented government operations.
“It is alleged that the chairman of the CPSB used personal funds to place the cancellation advertisement of the newspaper, a gravely irregular action,” Natembeya said in part of his statement.
Governor Natembeya also accused the board members of defying a January 26 directive to proceed on terminal leave. He stated the law does not allow for the commutation of leave days for cash.
Despite the notification, the board continued to transact business.
The governor alleged that some of this ongoing business was unprocedural, nepotistic, and illegal, placing the members in direct contravention of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya.
The shutdown, he stated, aims to restore fairness, equity, and justice to the county public service.
Is the county public service board independent?
In a swift rejoinder issued on the same day, CPSB Chairperson Peter Maloba Wamoto wrote to the County Secretary, terming the office closure and mass staff transfers as unlawful.
In the official response, the board reminded the executive that the CPSB is an independent constitutional organ established under Article 235 of the Constitution and the County Governments Act of 2012.
Wamoto emphasized that the board is not a department under the County Executive, nor is it subject to administrative direction, supervision, or control by the County Secretary.
The board categorically stated that neither the governor nor the county secretary possesses the legal authority to dissolve, suspend, or administratively paralyze a sitting board outside the procedures provided in law.
The CPSB issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the immediate reopening of their offices, the reversal of all staff transfer directives, and a written disclosure of the legal basis for the executive’s actions.
Wamoto warned that failure to comply would compel the board to seek declaratory and conservatory orders in court to safeguard institutional independence.
Why Natembeya clashed with county public service board
The current crisis is the climax of long-standing friction over county employment.
Central to the immediate dispute is the hiring of health workers.
Governor Natembeya accused the board of employing eight nurses who had not been shortlisted. This specific action, he stated, resulted in a court injunction that stopped the onboarding of 134 nurses required to improve health service delivery.
Insiders, however, allege the root of the conflict lies in the board ignoring a list of proposed employment names provided by the executive.
In a separate incident in March 2025, alleged supporters of the governor went to court to block the deployment of 140 nurses employed by the CPSB.
The nurses were meant to serve on a one-year contract ending in March 2026.
Due to the prolonged court case, their employment period has largely been overtaken by events before they could even receive their deployment letters.
The employment battles in Trans Nzoia predate the current administration. Prior to the 2022 general elections, former Governor Patrick Khaemba’s administration advertised jobs for 35 directors and 240 medical staff, alongside plans to transfer 350 casual workers to permanent terms.
Natembeya, who was then vying for the gubernatorial seat, successfully petitioned the courts to block the recruitment, claiming the outgoing governor was irregularly rewarding cronies.
The protracted leadership battles have drawn sharp criticism from county residents, who bear the brunt of the stalled services.
Locals, including resident Joseph Simiyu, have accused Governor Natembeya of acting as an administrator who has effectively blocked the employment of over 1,000 residents.
The human resource paralysis has heavily impacted existing county staff.
During the Madaraka Day celebrations in 2025, Chairman Wamoto publicly pleaded with the executive to follow the law and allow the board to operate independently.
He highlighted that the ongoing tug-of-war had resulted in many county staff being denied promotions and other statutory benefits for years.
As the February 28 expiration of the board’s term approaches, the county government remains locked in a legal and administrative stalemate, leaving crucial public service operations in limbo.
