De La Rue offices.[Photo/capitalfm]
High Court Judge George Odunga has temporarily suspended the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) decision that nullified the currency printing tender awarded to De LaRue Company.
The judge further consolidated the two matters that had been filed by CBK and De La Rue into one.
Odunga directed that the case be mentioned on Friday for further directions
“I have considered the application and submission by the counsel and I hereby grant leave to operate as stay of the decision of the respondents made on January 8th pending hearing and determination,” ruled Odunga.
De La Rue, through Lawyer Fred Ngatia, argued that the matter ought to be heard expeditiously, adding that what is at stake is the printing of currency pursuant to the Constitution.
Lawyer Ochieng Oduol, who was representing the Central Bank, agreed with the arguments submitted by Ngatia.
The court was told that De La Rue has more than 300 Kenyan employees and has invested millions of shillings in the business.