Court bars NSSF from hiring new CEO pending case

Former NSSF managing trustee Tom Odongo moved to court on September 23 to block the fund from replacing him. FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By GALGALO FAYO

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has been stopped from recruiting a new chief executive until a suit filed by the immediate former managing trustee Tom Odongo is determined.

Industrial Court Judge Nzioki wa Makau suspended the process on Monday until November 1 when he is expected to deliver his ruling on the case filed by Mr Odongo challenging his dismissal.

The fund in a newspaper notice invited applications for the position that is currently held in an acting capacity by Hope Mwashumbe.

(READ: NSSF starts search for chief to replace Tom Odongo amid row)

“The counsels for the NSSF and cabinet secretary have provided an undertaking not to fill the position until November 1, when the ruling will be delivered,” states the undertaking adopted by court as an order.

The lawyers representing Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and NSSF took the undertaking which was adopted as orders of the court.

The undertaking follows an application by Mr Odongo through his lawyer Geoffrey Oriaro on September 23 seeking to stop NSSF from recruiting a new CEO until the suit he filed is determined.

NSSF started the process of replacing Mr Odongo who was sacked on July 22.

Mr Odongo had moved to court to block NSSF from replacing him and it remains unclear whether the fund won the right to proceed with his replacement.

(READ: Sacked NSSF boss moves to block hiring of new chief)

NSSF has published higher qualification standards for its next CEO in line with the draft NSSF 2013 Bill that is set to be discussed in Parliament amid opposition from employers and workers’ representatives.

Prospective candidates must now have a Masters degree in a commercial, management, or equivalent fields from a recognised university.

They also require at least 10 years of work experience at managerial level in pension, banking and investment sectors in an organisation similar to the size of the Sh130 billion NSSF.

(READ: State raises the bar for next NSSF boss, sets term cap)

The higher qualifications come as the government moves to enshrine the minimum qualifications of NSSF managing trustees in law for the first time