Isiolo County nominees sworn in despite court petition

By Ali Abdi

Isiolo, Kenya: Nominees to the Isiolo County Executive and Public Service Board were sworn in even as members of two communities opposed their nominations.

Meru High Court Judge Justice Lady Jessy Lesiit Wednesday gave lawyers representing the Turkana and Meru communities and Isiolo County Government more time to prepare their submissions and appear before the court on June 18.

The lawyers representing respondents from the county among them Governor Godana Doyo and Speaker Mohammed Tubi were given three days to make their submission and serve the petitioners who in turn have two days to respond.

As the case went on, the 10 members of the County Assembly were asked to attend a special sitting by the County Clerk Mohammed Halake. After a heated debate between members, seven members of the County Executive and six nominees to the Public Service Board were confirmed.

Over lunch hour, the 13 officials were sworn in hurriedly in a ceremony boycotted by members opposed to the process.

Ward representatives Moses Kithinji (Bulapesa), Selasio Kiambi (Wabera), Paul Mero (Burat) and Peter Losu (Ngaremara) said URP was using the tyranny of numbers to contravene the Constitution.

‘‘The nominees’ names were advertised on Madaraka Day which is a public holiday and in less than 12 hours, they had rushed the whole process to confirm the appointments,’’ said Mero.

Lawyer Carlpeters Mbaabu, representing the petitioners was by the time of going to press seeking an injunction to either block the swearing-in or assumption of office of the appointees.

Members of the Turkana and Meru communities through their representatives were granted leave of motion on Monday by the Court where the four respondents were directed to appear at the same court along with six petitioners for an ex-parte hearing.