Case against Governor Lusaka over sacking fails to take off

A case in which Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has been sued for sacking a county executive failed to kick off at the High Court in Kisumu.

The case was postponed to June 20 after Mr Lusaka failed to file a response to allegations by suspended County Gender and Culture Executive Consolata Wakwabubi.

Mrs Wakwabubi had petitioned the Employment and Labour Court over what she termed as a wrongful dismissal by the County Government of Bungoma over alleged misappropriation of Sh12.5 million.

She had sued Lusaka alongside the county secretary and the Public Service Board.

In a sworn affidavit, Wakwabubi said the alleged misappropriation of Sh12.5 million took place long before she assumed office.

She said she took office on December 11, 2014, and the probe in her docket only covered from July 1, 2013, to June 31, 2014.

Wakwabubi said she read malice in the manner in which the board handled her dismissal.

She said she was not accorded a fair hearing to defend herself over allegations that she falsified documents to defraud the county.

"My attempts to have a comprehensive handing-over report was met by rude responses and hence I was not able to respond accordingly to the audit queries raised therein," said Wakwabubi in an affidavit sworn in court.

She also accused the governor of failing to remit her salary while she was on suspension despite the provisions of the law that she is entitled to receive a quarter of her salary, full house allowance and a medical cover.

In a replying affidavit, County Secretary Chiuli Murumba denied claims that Wakwabubi was not accorded a fair hearing.

Mr Chiuli wants the court to dismiss the petition, saying it amounts to blatant abuse of court process.