An unusual standoff has unfolded at Harambee House, where a long-serving civil servant has taken drastic action to protest an office relocation order.
Phyllis Anyango Ouko, who has dedicated over two decades to public service, has refused to move from her ground floor office to the eighth floor, citing reasons related to her physical condition and safety.
Ouko, an administration secretary who relies on a wheelchair, argues that the directive is inconsiderate and jeopardizes her welfare.
For three nights, she has refused to leave her office, choosing instead to lock herself inside to prevent her belongings from being removed or her space demolished.
According to her, the office is the last remaining one on the floor undergoing renovations.
She says her greatest fear is being stranded on the upper floors in the event of an elevator breakdown or a power cut.
She maintains that the decision makers did not adequately address her concerns about emergency evacuation and accessibility.
Her insistence is supported by government guidelines which call for duty stations to be suitable for persons with disabilities.
The policy also demands that proper emergency measures be put in place to protect such officers in their work environment. Ouko insists these safeguards are lacking in the relocation plan.
She has been trying to engage the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, but her pleas have not yielded a resolution.
For now, the official continues to spend her nights in her office, determined to keep her position and maintain access to her files and equipment.
She fears that leaving would lead to her office being torn down immediately, leaving her without a proper workstation.
This situation has sparked fresh questions about how disability rights are observed within government offices.
The fact that Ouko has chosen to sleep in her office for days shows how serious she is about defending her right to a safe and accessible workspace.
By Kenyans