Shelter Afrique board sacks CEO over claims

By STANDARD REPORTER

Shelter Afrique Managing Director, Mr Allasane Ba, has been sacked following a long running saga on his conduct, The Standard has learnt.

Mr Ba had more than a year left on his contract, which would have ended June next year.

Shelter Afrique’s board terminated his contract after investigations found he had engaged in a tiff with former finance director Karen Kandie.

His sacking ends a diplomatic storm that dented the institution’s image. Ms Kandie lost a suit she had filed in court challenging Ba’s decision to sack her after the brawl.

The court upheld the decision to fire her, while her plea to have Ba arrested flopped since he enjoys diplomatic immunity.

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Mr Tirop Kosgey, a director at the institution, said the board terminated Ba’s contract following recommendations of an independent probe on the confrontation, mid last year.

“We expect a new managing director by June after the board reached a decision to terminate his contract,” said Kosgey, who is also Housing PS.

“Ms Kandie’s dismissal remains because it had been upheld by a judicial process, which the board cannot review,” he added.

Shelter Afrique is now seeking to fill the two positions by June. Parliament and senior Government officials unsuccessfully pushed for Ba’s arrest and deportation.

The alleged assault triggered tension at the institution and discomfort within Government after the incident generated diplomatic tensions.

Diplomatic immunity

Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for Ba’s arrest, while Shelter Afrique, which is jointly owned by 44 African countries, insisted he was immune to prosecution by virtue of his office.

Raila then directed Foreign Affairs minister Prof Sam Ongeri and Attorney General Githu Muigai to demand that Shelter Afrique be stripped off diplomatic immunity granted to Ba to allow for his prosecution.

Shelter Afrique’s stand on the immunity, however, prevailed.

The fallout between the two senior figures at Shelter Afrique was reportedly set off by Ba’s low rating of Kandie’s performance.

Kandie protested the rating at her boss’ office where she is said to have taped the heated conversation, a situation that slighted Ba, leading to a physical confrontation. At the time of the saga, Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka said the Senegalese executive is classified as an international civil servant and is bound by the Kenyan laws.