NGO loses bid to gag media in case with sacked employee

A court has declined to gag the media in a case in which a woman sacked for sharing information about the employer with her husband is seeking compensation.

Justice Linnet Ndolo said the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) had not proved that there was any information they wished to protect.

IPPF claimed that Aissata Tounkara Sangare had a tendency of sharing confidential information.

However, the judge said the NGO made a blanket application without pinpointing the exact information that the court could shield from the media.

The judge also dismissed an application to have Tounkara submit a Sh25 million security for her case to be heard.

Justice Ndolo was of the view that the huge amount of money would hamper Tounkara's right to access justice. According to the judge, it was not enough for IPPF to claim that Tounkara was a foreigner.

"In the circumstances of this case, I would agree with the claimant that the respondents have not established the threshold for grant of an order for attachment before judgment. This limb of the application therefore falls and is disallowed," ruled Justice Ndolo.

In her response, Tounkara claimed that she was fired after sharing alleged fraudulent activities in the organisation to her husband Nouhoum Sangare.

"I was punished for sharing confidential information about the organisation with my husband who only acted as a whistleblower to question the activities which were going on. I was unfairly targeted and sacked for promoting transparency in the organisation," said Tounkara.

The Malian national, who was employed in April, 2021, as head of operations, is demanding more than Sh46 million ($304,162).

She is seeking the send-off package that includes air tickets, a container to ferry her belongings, school fees refund for her four children and compensation.