The National Employment Authority (NEA) is facing one of the gravest governance crises in its short history, as fresh revelations expose deep-rooted administrative failures, alleged abuse of office, and an unlawful defiance of mandatory retirement laws at the very top of the institution.
At the centre of the storm is NEA Director-General Edith Okoki, who remains in office despite having attained the mandatory public service retirement age of 60 years on May 24, 2025—a move staff describe as a blatant violation of the law and a dangerous precedent for public service governance.
DG Accused of Defying Retirement Law
According to internal petitions and staff accounts, Okoki’s continued stay in office contravenes Section 80 of the Public Service Commission Act, 2017, a Presidential Directive issued in July 2024, and a circular from the Head of Public Service dated August 5, 2024.
These instruments uniformly require immediate retirement upon attaining 60 years, with the only exception being persons living with disabilities, whose retirement age is set at 65.
Staff argue that the Director-General’s refusal to vacate office directly undermines the rule of law and contradicts the very youth employment objectives that NEA was created to champion.
Irregular Promotions and Questionable Appointments
Whistleblowers within NEA paint a picture of systemic manipulation of human resource processes, allegedly orchestrated under the Director-General’s leadership.
Among the most serious allegations:
-
Irregular staff confirmations: Officers at Job Group P were allegedly elevated directly to Director-level positions (Job Group T) without competitive recruitment, in breach of Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations.
-
Illegitimate staffing arrangements: Officers still employed and paid by the Ministry of Labour were unlawfully confirmed into substantive NEA positions without formal transfer or deployment.
-
Payroll and budget risks: These appointments expose NEA to potential audit queries and public finance violations, as salaries and benefits are drawn from budgets where no provision exists.
Chain of Command Undermined
Internal records indicate that on May 15, 2025, the Director-General bypassed NEA’s only substantive Director to appoint a junior acting officer to oversee the Authority during her absence.
Staff say this move violated established hierarchy, raised suspicions of favoritism, and further eroded confidence in leadership integrity.
Board Accused of Rubber-Stamping Irregularities
The crisis escalated on May 16, 2025, when the NEA Board reportedly convened an emergency virtual meeting to retroactively approve irregular appointments already made.
Employees view this as an attempt to sanitize illegal decisions after the fact, rather than uphold governance standards.
Adding to staff anger is the refusal by management to confirm employees who completed probation over 11 months ago, despite clear PSC guidance—while preferred officers allegedly received fast-tracked promotions.
Staff Welfare Neglected Amid Leadership Turmoil
Beyond governance breaches, staff say NEA has descended into a hostile and demoralizing work environment.
Reported issues include:
-
Delayed or inadequate medical insurance
-
Absence of pension schemes
-
Shortage of essential work tools
-
A fear-based culture marked by intimidation and exclusion
Internal memos attached to a petition sent to oversight bodies describe leadership practices as “authoritarian, exclusionary, and non-collaborative,” severely undermining staff morale and institutional performance.
Millions at Risk as Budget Integrity Questioned
The financial stakes are significant.
NEA’s 2025/26 budget allocates approximately Ksh167.3 million for personnel costs, based on its approved staff establishment. The inclusion of unauthorized officers from the Ministry of Labour risks misallocation of public funds, exposing the Authority to serious audit and legal consequences.
Staff Demand Immediate Intervention
In a strongly worded petition addressed to the PSC, the Ministry of Labour, and other oversight bodies, employees are demanding:
-
Immediate enforcement of the Director-General’s retirement
-
Accountability for irregular promotions and appointments
-
A transparent, merit-based process to appoint an acting or substantive DG
-
Governance and staff welfare reforms to restore NEA’s credibility
They warn that allowing senior officials to flout retirement laws sets a dangerous precedent that erodes public trust and institutional integrity.
A Leadership Crisis at Odds With NEA’s Mandate
Ironically, the unlawful extension of the Director-General’s tenure directly contradicts a Presidential directive of July 5, 2024, which sought to open opportunities for Kenya’s youth by enforcing retirement rules across the public service.
“NEA cannot credibly champion youth employment while its leadership blocks lawful succession,” one staff member said.
Unless decisive action is taken, employees warn that NEA risks total institutional paralysis—crippling an agency meant to empower the very generation it now appears to be locking out.