NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – The Employment and Labour Relations Court has temporarily halted the suspension of National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) Chief Executive Officer Roy Sasaka Telewa over allegations of possession of unexplained wealth valued at about Sh1 billion, pending the determination of the case.
Lady Justice Jemimah Wanza Keli, in her ruling, barred the respondents from suspending, removing, terminating or purporting to terminate the petitioner’s contract of service.
“THAT pending the hearing of this Application, the court is further pleased to issue a temporary conservatory order restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants or any person acting under their authority, from suspending, removing, terminating or purporting to terminate the Petitioner’s contract of service; convening, directing, influencing or acting upon any Board meeting or process aimed at his removal; appointing or retaining any person in an acting or substantive capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund; or in any other manner,” Keli said in the ruling.
The court decision follows a recommendation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, seeking Telewa’s suspension.
In a letter, the EACC cited allegations of possession of unexplained wealth, abuse of office, conflict of interest and money laundering.
“The Commission is empowered under Section 4(4) of the Leadership and Integrity Act to require public entities to carry out such functions and exercise such powers as may be necessary to enforce compliance with the leadership and integrity requirements,” EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said.
“Pursuant to the provisions reproduced hereinbefore and to ensure that these investigations are conducted without interference, we recommend that the above-named officer be suspended from office for a period of six (6) months from the date of receipt of this letter pending completion of our investigations,” he added.
