Court Blocks Ruto From Suspending Bomas Of Kenya CEO

President William Ruto has been hit with another blow in three days after a Nairobi court blocked his government from suspending Bomas of Kenya General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Gitaa Koria.

Koria was among six CEOs of State Agencies suspended for 12 months following recommendations of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for their suspension for alleged involvement in corruption and procurement irregularities within their respective institutions.

The CEO argued that even before the hearing of his application challenging the suspension, the Bomas of Kenya Board of Directors Chairperson summoned a special meeting that was to be held on Thursday, November 23.

Inside the amphitheatre at the Bomas of Kenya. /PHOTO.BOMAS OF KENYA

He outlined that the agenda of the meeting touched on the appointment of an Acting CEO and implementation of directives from the Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage who had ordered for his suspension.

Through lawyer Stephen Mogaka, Koria termed his suspension as “marred with illegalities and procedural irregularities,” as he called for the said special board meeting to be stopped.

“...unless this Honorable Court moves with celerity and arrests the illegalities and injustices occasioned by the Respondents, the Applicant (Mr. Koria) shall suffer irreparable harm as their right to equality before the law, fair administrative action and labor rights will be curtailed,” lawyer Mogaka submitted as reported by Citizen Digital.

This is the second time in three days that a legal institution has blocked the government from fully effecting the suspension of the six CEOs as well as 67 police officers and an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).

Besides the Bomas of Kenya boss, the other Executives included; Eng. Fredrick Mwamati (CEO, Tanathi Water Works Development Agency), Stephen Ogenga (DG, National Industrial Training Authority), Stanvas Ong’alo (Acting DG, National Museums of Kenya), Benjamin Kai Chilumo (CEO, Huduma Centre Secretariat), and Eng. Anthony Wamukota (GM, Design & Construction, KETRACO).

The directive was made on Thursday, November 16 by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

On Monday, November 20, the High Court issued conservatory orders suspending a directive by the government to have 67 police officers suspended over alleged links to corruption.

Justice Chacha Mwita while issuing the orders, stopped Inspector-General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome from implementing the directive following a petition filed by lawyer Danstan Omari. Koskei had directed Koome to suspend the officers implicated in corruption-related malpractices.

The officers through Omari moved to court challenging the directive and cited violations of disciplinary procedures outlined in the National Police Service Act.