Politics and policy
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero (pictured) replaced Mr Gakuo with Dr
Bernard Mugenyo and Dr Bernard Muia took over Dr Kingondu’s docket.
PHOTO | FILE
By BRIAN WASUNA, bwasuna@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
- Mr Gakuo and Dr Kingondu want the court to reinstate them on grounds that they were wrongfully dismissed in a mini reshuffle last October, or have the county government pay them each about Sh17 million.
- They say in court papers that Dr Kidero did not give them reasons for sacking them, contrary to Kenyan labour laws.
Former Nairobi County Executives John Gakuo and
Timothy Kingondu have sued governor Evans Kidero for sacking them barely
one and a-half years after their appointment.
Mr Gakuo and Dr Kingondu want the court to reinstate them on
grounds that they were wrongfully dismissed in a mini reshuffle last
October, or have the county government pay them each about Sh17 million
for the 42 months that remained before the end of their five-year
contracts.
The two say in court papers that Dr Kidero did not give them reasons for sacking them, contrary to Kenyan labour laws.
They earned a monthly basic salary of Sh300,000
with gratuity of Sh1.1 million per year, which was based on 31 per cent
of their annual pay.
They also enjoyed medical cover.
Dr Kidero replaced Mr Gakuo with Dr Bernard Mugenyo
and Dr Bernard Muia took over Dr Kingondu’s docket. The governor at the
time insisted that the executives had resigned, with Dr Kingondu
confirming that he had left the position to pursue other interests.
“On the morning of October 7 I was called by Dr
Kidero into his office and verbally informed that my services were no
longer needed and my salary had been stopped. To date I have never
received any termination letter and neither do I know the reasons for my
termination,” Mr Gakuo says.
“I had committed my salary to various projects and
have to outsource to service loans which is difficult without meaningful
salary. I have had to undergo grave professional humiliation and
serious mental anguish,” he added.
The two have enjoined City Hall in the suit.
Justice Mumbi Ngugi on Tuesday told them to serve City Hall and Dr
Kidero with the suit papers. Dr Kingondu says his sacking was similar to
Mr Gakuo’s.
City Hall in October maintained that the two had
handed in their resignation notices without indicating the reason for
their departure.
Mr Gakuo had since declined to discuss the circumstances of his departure until yesterday when he filed the suit.
Hampering performance
The reshuffle came nine months after the Assembly
put several members of Kidero’s executive, including Mr Gakuo and Mr
Evans Ondieki, on notice over slow service delivery in their dockets
which was hampering the county government’s overall performance.
Dr Kidero said in a Press statement that the reshuffle was meant to address lax service delivery to Nairobi residents.
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