The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has instituted court proceedings against Nairobi County government.
The reason behind this is attributed to City Hall allegedly invading and blocking entry routes to KEMRI’s head offices near Kibera on Thursday.
The parastatal body accused the city government of falsely demanding dues amounting to sh120 million which it says is an ill-motivated move. KEMRI said that tax collectors invaded the offices paralysing operations as workers were denied entry into their work places. Officers from City Hall used old trucks to block the major entry points into the KEMRI offices, leaving both domestic and foreign laboratory operators stranded, which among them were diplomats from the United States of America.
According to press reports from City Hall, KEMRI had been awarded a contract to avail health certificates to local food vendors within Nairobi and from the process, the parastatal body would, in turn, submit monthly remittance of sh12 million to the county government. Governor Kidero's government, however, insists that the research institute has violated the terms and conditions in their contract.
On its part, KEMRI maintains that it does not owe any money to City Hall and to this effect, its officials are now demanding to be served with a compelling court order for breach of contract.