A Kisumu High court has issued an order to reinstate Kisumu County Secretary John Ochieng Ouma, who was sacked by Governor Anyang Nyong’o last week.
Employment and Labor Relations Court Judge Justice Christine Baari directed that the petitioner, Ouma, resumes his duties until the matter is heard and determined.
Justice Baari further ordered that both parties in the petition filed by the County Secretary appear before her on April 19 for an inter-partes hearing.
On the March 28, Governor Nyongo in a letter to the County Secretary directed that he vacates office and hand over functions to Public Service CEC Judith Anyango.
However, Ouma, through his lawyer Christopher Ayieko moved to court on a certificate of urgency seeking to overturn the governor’s decision.
In his petition, Ouma says the letter of termination was unprecedentedly short, without cause, reasons, grounds, notice, or even salary in lieu of notice as required by law.
He says the letter demanded that he hands over immediately and on the same day he received phone calls from county administrators demanding that he vacates his official residence in Milimani.
In the affidavit, Ouma says he was concerned that his family was likely to be thrown out of the county house as a result of the illegal and unconstitutional decision to terminate his contract.
He told the court that such an action would cause his family to risk embarrassment and harassment for being thrown out of the official residence.
Advocate Ayieko also questioned the timing of the termination only when the courts started vacation arguing that it was intended to deny his client the right to legal action.
