The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi will today hear a case in which former officials at the Office of the Deputy President challenged a directive to go on compulsory leave.
More than 100 top officers who worked under former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were asked to proceed on compulsory leave following Gachagua’s impeachment last month.
Most of those affected were employees whose terms of service are tied to that of the Deputy President’s like his advisors, senior staff and private secretaries.
“Following the ongoing Constitutional process affecting His Excellency the Deputy President, it has been decided as follows; All officers in Job Groups T and U are hereby instructed to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect. All serving officers in Supernumerary Contracts shall also proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect,” read a Memo by Principal Administrative Secretary Patrick Mwangi, last month.
Mwangi in the Memo copied to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei further directed all heads of department to ensure they appoint people who will be responsible for the affected offices.
“All Heads of Department are directed to ensure they designate in writing a responsible officer to be in-charge of their respective Departments with a copy to the Chief of Staff and the Principal Administrative Secretary."
Elsewhere at the magistrate’s court, the hearing of a case where top officials of the National Cereals and Produce Board were charged with Sh209 million fake fertiliser scandal is expected to proceed today.
Josiah Kariuki, the director of Fifty-One Capital Limited and SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited are among those charged.
Others are Joseph Muna Kamote, John Kiplangat and John Mbaya.
They have denied charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office before trial magistrate Celesa Okore.
They are accused that jointly with others not before the court, they conspired with intent to defraud Kenyan farmers, sold a total of 139,688 bags of 25 Kgs each of soil amendment and conditioner valued at Sh209,532,000 purporting it to be a genuine fertilizer.
