There is growing disquiet over the sacking of Kenyan staff at a Nairobi-based women’s rights NGO headed by a Zimbabwean director. The Kenyan staff of Urgent Action Fund-Africa, it’s claimed, would be replaced by “high profile” foreigners so the organisation is “like the UN” where various African regions are represented on the pay-roll. The UN hires junior staff from the host country.
A former employee said Ms Ndana Tsei Tawamba, the organisation’s executive director, informed the staff on Monday that their jobs will be re-advertised whether they have worked there for six months or 10 years.
Among those sacked include junior staff such as interns, the receptionist and office driver.
Some have worked with the NGO since its founding in 2001 by Havard-educated and prominent rights advocate Betty Murungi.
It gives grants to women in difficult circumstances and is famous in its role in the campaign for peace in Liberia and assistance to rape victims in Mt Elgon.
All the affected women have valid three-year contracts and the action by the well-regarded Ford Foundation-funded NGO has raised questions over the apparent violation of their rights. The former employee, who asked not to be named, said the NGO’s board, chaired by Open Society boss and former Human Rights Watch Africa Programme Officer Binaifer Nowrojee, had sanctioned the sackings.
Yesterday, Ms Tawamba declined to comment on claims the restructuring has targeted Kenyan employees. Tawamba told The Standard On Saturday that only the organisation’s board of directors could respond to the allegations.
“As a policy we don’t respond to allegations. However it is the board of directors that makes decisions and only the board can respond to such issues.
Let us respect the channels of communication, put down in writing the claims and the board will respond appropriately,” she said. The Standard On Saturday could not reach Ms Nowrojee as calls to her office went unanswered.
By Alex Ndegwa, The Standard
