Kihika to wait longer to know nominees’ fate
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika will have to wait longer to know the fate of her nominees for County Chief Officers (COs) after the Employment and Labour Relations Court postponed the ruling to November 29.
Justice David Nderitu in his directions yesterday deferred the much-anticipated ruling after indicating that the decision which touched on a number of sensitive labour and jurisdictional issues was not complete.
According to judge Nderitu, he had only managed to complete one ruling in the two petitions, saying it was best to have both delivered in one day and give further directions on how the case should proceed.
Nderitu is expected to rule on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the petition after Governor Kihika filed a preliminary objection saying the petitioners did not exhaust all legal avenues before moving to court.
“This case is of public interest and it also stands a chance to give a bearing in the many cases we have in courts over COs and County Executives, it is fair if I deliver rulings of the two petitions on Tuesday, November 29,” he ruled. He further extended orders stopping the vetting of the nominees until the ruling of the case.
The matter which has been in court for close to two months has since paralyzed operations at the county headquarters, as there is no cabinet to approve crucial decisions including budgets for the new administration.
Stephen Oduor and Kenneth Odongo had moved to court seeking to stop the vetting and approval of nominees on grounds that the process of interviewing, recommending, and nominating the Chief Officers was flawed.
