Court suspends case against CS Charity Ngilu's appointments

By PAMELA CHEPKEMEI

NAIROBI, KENYA: A court has suspended hearing of a case filed against Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, by a voter over appointments and deployment of senior officers in her Ministry.

High Court Judge, Mumbi Ngugi on Monday directed that the proceedings of the case at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division be put on hold pending the outcome of another case against Ngilu at the Industrial Court.

The judge said the case before her raises issues of employment similar to the one pending at the Industrial Court.

A voter moved to court in January to challenge the constitutionality of appointments of senior staff in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development.

He contends the Land Commission is the only agency vested with power to make changes and not  Ngilu .

The judge made the order after the petitioner; Clifford Keya told the court through his lawyer that he wanted the case at Industrial Court determined first.

Keya's lawyer, Andrew Kariu informed the court that the case at the Industrial Court will be heard on March 10.

The case before the Industrial Court had initially been filed at the Constitutional Division by Keya.

Justice Ngugi ordered the case to be moved to Industrial Court because it concerns employment issues.