Two activists from Narok have moved to court to challenge a decision to dismiss board members of Kenya Farmers Association Limited.
Mr George Narok and Paul Maina claim that the move by the government to send home the board members was illegal, adding that KFA is a private entity.
“We are seeking the court’s assistance because the government’s action is illegal. KFA members should be allowed to elect leaders,” they said in the application.
On October 24, President Uhuru Kenyatta, through a Gazette notice, sacked the organisation's board, replacing it with a caretaker board.
The president acted upon advice from Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, in whose docket the organisation falls under.
“The decision by the respondent (Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperative Peter Munya and Commissioner for Cooperative Development) to remove the board of directors of KFA and then appointing a caretaker board was done without prior notice and consultation of members of KFA,” stated the activists in their suit.
Mr Narok says there is no provision in the Constitution, the Companies Act or Cooperative Societies Act that allows the government to remove the board of directors of KFA and appoint a caretaker board.
In 2003, the minister for cooperative development made a similar move. The same was challenged in court and the decision quashed.
Munya who was recently dragged into the alleged assassination plot against Deputy President William Ruto, served as Meru governor before losing to Kiraitu Murungi in the 2017 polls.
The seasoned politician is also the leader of Party of National Unity, which retired President Mwai Kibaki used to defend his seat in 2007.