Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang Nyong’o was on Thursday dealt a major blow, after Court of Appeal judges dismissed his request to overturn the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s decision of reinstating eight sacked chief officers.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Hannah Okwengu said that Nyong’o had no unilateral powers to sack the eight officers.
“We have come to the conclusion that the governor initiated the removal of the respondents without following the appropriate machinery. The respondents being County Public officers, the governor could not terminate their services without involving the County Public service board and the County assembly,” said the judge.
She added, “In sending the respondents on compulsory leave and terminating the respondents’ contracts, the governor usurped the role of the County Public Service Board. We believe we have said enough to come to the conclusion that save for the issue of costs, this appeal must fail.”
The said officers were employed by the previous government under former governor Jack Ranguma.
When Professor Nyong’o came into office in August last year, he send 14 Chief Officers on compulsory leave in order to put up his new government.
Eight of them went to court to challenge his decision.