Mpondela further assured that the board will reach a decision reflective of the views expressed by the stakeholders/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 18 – The Board of Directors of Shelter Afrique will meet on Thursday next week to discuss the nature and circumstances of the alleged altercations between Chief Executive Officer Alassane Ba and a senior official of the organisation.
Chairman Elias Mpondela assured that the board would take views from both sides into account as the matter was of cross-cutting proportions.
“It is for this reason that we wish to assure interested and concerned parties that the Shelter Afrique Board is investigating and carrying out wide consultations on the reported events including direct engagement with Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said in a statement.
Mpondela further assured that the board will reach a decision reflective of the views expressed by the stakeholders.
“The final decisions of the Board of Directors will, in addition to taking into account the rights and obligations of the concerned persons, reflect to the greatest extent possible the views of the entire stakeholder body of the institution,” said the Board Chairman.
The Shelter Afrique Board of directors consists of Mpondela, the Zambian chairman, the PS in the Ministry of Housing Tirop Kosgey, Néné Soumare of Senegal, Ali Boulares from Algeria, Corneille Karekezi of Rwanda, Samuel Mivedor of the African Development Bank Group, Gabindadde-Musoke from Uganda Olatunbosun Ayileka from Nigeria and Jean Paul Missi from Cameroon.
Ba is accused of assaulting Finance Director Karen Njeri Kandie at the organisation’s headquarters in Upper Hill, on June 28.
On Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that Ba does not enjoy absolute diplomatic immunity and can face the law over the alleged assault.
A letter seen by Capital FM News from Foreign Affairs PS Thuita Mwangi to Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said that Ba was not classified as a diplomat.
According to the PS, the agreement signed by Shelter Afrique in 1983 did not grant officials of the organisation absolute immunity.
“The government signed a host country agreement with Shelter Afrique on October 19, 1983. Article 31 of the agreement provides that ‘without prejudice to the privileges and immunities granted, the officials of Shelter Afrique are required to respect the laws and regulations of Kenya.’ it is therefore clearly implied that the immunities enjoyed under the host country agreement are not absolute and are indeed subject to the laws of the host country,” the letter copied to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko points out.
The letter to Iteere dated July 11 advised him to take action on the complaint after investigations into the alleged assault are complete.
“Should investigations reveal that the individual is in violation of the Penal Code, then the law should be allowed to take its course bearing in mind that the victim is entitled to equal protection before the law,” the letter reads.
Senior police sources however revealed on Wednesday that Commissioner Iteere was yet to receive the letter.
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