‘Governor Ruto's legal advisor is ghost worker'

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto

A governor’s legal advisor was irregularly given a non-existent post where he enhanced his pay unjustifiably a court has ruled.

The Kericho Labour Court added that the Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto’s attorney also enhanced other allowances and arrears without justification.

Justice Njagi Marete ruled that the appointment of Samuel Kipkoech Keter to the office of the County Attorney was irregular since the position was non-existent at the time of his appointment in October, 2013. He was sacked by the governor in June last year.

Mr Keter then moved to court on June 26, 2015 to challenge the move. The former senior legal officer at the Rural Electrification Authority had sued the governor and the county.

In the petition, Keter claimed that from May, 2013, he had served as the special advisor to the governor, having been appointed via a letter dated May 10, 2013 and signed by the governor.

Mr Ruto then subsequently appointed him the county attorney on October 17 to be effective from July 1 that year, upon which he allegedly mislead the governor to over-pay him. It is said that his appointment to the County Public Service was based on an interpersonal arrangement.

Justice Marete established that the law enacting the office was not in place at the time.

The court dismissed Keter’s petition, ruling that his failure to annex and qualify a letter of appointment to prove his case was a lack of demonstration of employment.